Spokane follows Washington's statewide ban on thin single-use plastic carryout bags under RCW 70A.530, with an eight-cent pass-through charge on paper and reusable bags provided at checkout.
RCW 70A.530, effective October 2021, prohibits retailers and food establishments from providing thin single-use plastic carryout bags. Permitted alternatives include recycled-content paper bags and thicker reusable plastic bags meeting state thickness standards. Stores must charge a state-set pass-through fee of eight cents per paper or reusable bag, retained by the retailer. The fee is waived for SNAP, WIC, and TANF customers. Spokane has not added a stricter local ordinance, and Department of Ecology enforces statewide. Produce bags, bulk-food bags, and pharmacy prescription bags are exempt.
Stores giving banned bags or failing to charge the fee can be fined up to $250 per day per location by the Department of Ecology under RCW 70A.530.
Spokane, WA
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Spokane, WA
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See how Spokane's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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