Oklahoma City cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. 27A O.S. § 2-11-504 provides that 'no political subdivision shall restrict, tax, prohibit or regulate the use, disposition or sale of auxiliary containers.' Governor Stitt signed the preemption (SB 1001) into law in 2019 specifically to block emerging local bag ordinances.
27A O.S. § 2-11-504, enacted by SB 1001 in 2019, prohibits any political subdivision from imposing 'restrictions, taxes, prohibitions or other regulations' on the 'use, disposition or sale of auxiliary containers' — defined to include bags, cups, bottles, and similar packaging in plastic, paper, cloth, or other materials. The statute carved out only one exception: a county or municipality may continue to regulate auxiliary containers on property the political subdivision owns. The bill passed after Norman, Stillwater, and Edmond began drafting bag-related ordinances; it became law April 23, 2019. Oklahoma City never proceeded with a bag ordinance — the City Council's 2018 Sustainability Subcommittee draft was dropped after the 2019 preemption. The City of Oklahoma City Solid Waste Division operates the Big Blue Cart curbside recycling program (no plastic bags), the Buy Refuse Recycle education campaign, and partners with Keep Oklahoma City Beautiful on cleanup events. The city's 2020 ADAPTOKC Sustainability Plan targets voluntary diversion within § 2-11-504 limits.
Oklahoma City cannot fine retailers for distributing plastic bags. Bag-related litter is enforceable through Oklahoma City Municipal Code Chapter 41 (Solid Waste) and 21 O.S. § 1761 (criminal littering). The city can still regulate bags at its own facilities under the § 2-11-504 carve-out — for example, banning single-use plastics at Civic Center events or city parks.
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