Manchester cannot adopt a plastic bag ban or fee. NH SB 233 (signed 2024) and NH RSA 149-N preempt all local single-use bag regulations. Retailers in Manchester may distribute plastic carryout bags freely, and any prior city ban would be void.
NH SB 233 (2024) and NH RSA 149-N preempt municipal regulation of single-use carryout bags statewide. Manchester therefore cannot ban or impose a fee on plastic bags, paper bags, or compostable alternatives, regardless of city council intent. This is a sharp contrast with Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts cities, all of which restrict plastic bags at the local or state level. Voluntary store policies, such as offering reusable bags or in-store film recycling drop-off, remain legal in Manchester. Retailers must still comply with NH solid waste rules and federal product labeling requirements when describing biodegradable or compostable claims.
Because NH preempts local bag regulation, retailers face no Manchester penalty for distributing plastic bags. False biodegradable or compostable labeling, however, can still trigger FTC and NH consumer protection enforcement.
Manchester, NH
Manchester has no local ban on expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers. NH does not regulate polystyrene at the state level, and the city's preemption p...
Manchester, NH
Manchester requires residential recycling of accepted materials. Contamination with non-recyclables may cause entire bins to be rejected at the curb.
See how Manchester's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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