Oregon Statewide Rule
Oregon Statewide Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban
Key Facts
- Detail
- Effective January 1, 2020 statewide
- Detail
- Five-cent minimum charge per paper or reusable bag
- Detail
- SNAP and WIC customers exempt from charge
- Detail
- Produce and meat bags exempt from ban
Summary
HB 2509 bans most single-use plastic checkout bags statewide and requires a minimum charge for paper or thicker reusable bags at retailers.
459A.757 Prohibition on provision of certain checkout bags; exceptions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a retail establishment may not provide: (a) Single-use checkout bags to customers. (b) Recycled paper checkout bags, reusable fabric checkout bags or reusable plastic checkout bags to customers unless the retail establishment charges not less than five cents for each recycled paper checkout bag, reusable fabric checkout bag or reusable plastic checkout bag. (2) A retail establishment may provide: (a) Reusable fabric checkout bags at no cost to customers as a promotion on 12 or fewer days in a calendar year. (b) Recycled paper checkout bags or reusable plastic checkout bags at no cost to customers who: (A) Use a voucher issued under the Women, Infants and Children Program established under ORS 413.500. (B) Use an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Department of Human Services.
Full Breakdown
Oregon enacted HB 2509 in 2019, with full effect on January 1, 2020. Codified at ORS 459A.690 to 459A.699, the law prohibits retail establishments and restaurants from providing single-use plastic checkout bags. Customers may receive recycled-content paper bags or reusable plastic bags at least 4 mils thick for a minimum charge of five cents each, retained by the retailer. Produce, bulk, meat, and prescription bags are exempt. Customers using SNAP or WIC are exempt from the bag charge. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides retailer guidance and enforces compliance.
Violations & Penalties
Civil penalties for violations may reach $250 per day, escalating with continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do restaurants need to comply?
Who keeps the five-cent fee?
Sources
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