Scottsdale, AZ Single-Use Items: Plastic Bag Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Local Ordinance
- None. Arizona preempts
- Preemption Statute
- A.R.S. § 9-500.38 (2015)
- Maricopa County Pattern
- All major cities follow preemption
- Drop-Off
- Bag Central Station retailer locations
- Enforcement Tool
- A.R.S. § 41-194.01 (SB 1487)
Summary
Scottsdale cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. A.R.S. § 9-500.38 declares regulation of auxiliary containers a matter of statewide concern, preempting all Arizona cities and towns. Scottsdale's Solid Waste Division promotes voluntary plastic-film recycling at retailer drop-offs.
9-500.38. Prohibition on regulation of auxiliary containers; state preemption; definition
A. A city or town may not:
1. Impose a tax, fee, assessment, charge or return deposit on a consumer or an owner, operator or tenant of a business, commercial building or multifamily housing property for auxiliary containers.
2. Regulate the sale, use or disposition of auxiliary containers by an owner, operator or tenant of a business, commercial building or multifamily housing property.
B. The regulation of the sale, use and disposition of auxiliary containers is a matter of statewide concern. The regulation of the sale, use or disposition of auxiliary containers by an owner, operator or tenant of a business, commercial building or multifamily housing property pursuant to this section is not subject to further regulation by a city or town.
C. This section does not prevent a city or town from continuing a voluntary recycling and waste reduction program as authorized by section 9-500.07 or ensuring that discarded auxiliary containers defined as solid waste pursuant to section 49-701.01 are disposed of properly.
D. For the purposes of this section, "auxiliary container" includes reusable bags, disposable bags, boxes, beverage cans, bottles, cups and containers that are made out of cloth, plastic, extruded polystyrene, glass, aluminum, cardboard or other similar materials and that are used for transporting merchandise or food to or from a business or multifamily housing property.
Full Breakdown
B. ' Auxiliary containers include bags, cups, bottles, and packaging in all common materials. Scottsdale has never enacted a bag ordinance and the Phoenix-area cities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert have all followed the same approach. 01 (SB 1487), the Attorney General can withhold state shared revenue from any city defying the preemption: a remedy used to compel Bisbee to repeal its 2014 plastic-bag ordinance. Scottsdale's Solid Waste Division operates the Curbside Recycling program (no plastic bags accepted), the Solid Waste Transfer & Recycling Center on Hayden Road, and partners with the Bag Central Station program (Fry's, Safeway, Albertsons) for plastic-film recycling. 38 constraints.
Violations & Fines
Scottsdale cannot fine retailers or shoppers for bag use. Bag-related litter is enforceable through Scottsdale City Code § 16-1 (Solid Waste) and A.R.S. § 13-1603 (illegal dumping). Any local bag ordinance would be void on its face under § 9-500.38 and could trigger SB 1487 enforcement against the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scottsdale have a plastic bag ban?
What is the Arizona attorney general's role here?
Where can I recycle plastic bags in Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
Compare Scottsdale to another location·View the Arizona single-use items overview
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Plastic Bag Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle plastic bag rules.