Single-use disposable shopping bags are one of the most commonly used and quickly discarded items in our communities. When stores routinely hand out an unlimited number of single-use disposable bags, we end up creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Simply reminding people that it’s a good idea to shop with reusable bags isn’t enough to solve this problem and it’s time to take a more effective approach. Take this big step down the path toward a less wasteful society and join hundreds of other communities by creating a program that offers an incentive for people to shop with reusable bags.
Facts in Support of a Reusable Bag Ordinance Be prepared to advocate for and defend your ordinance with a list of good points and supporting facts on hand. This document will get you started.
Reusable Bag Ordinances Already in Place The City of Portland prepared this document to show where reusable bag ordinances have been adopted. The Surfrider Foundation maintains a similar list.
Sample Reusable Bag Ordinance Language This document provides sample ordinance language from other New England communities, which may help you draft an ordinance for your town.
Hannaford Reusable Bag Ordinance Position This is a letter from Hannaford Supermarkets stating their position toward local reusable bag ordinances.
Other Resources:
- New York Times editorial supporting ten-cent fees for single-use disposable paper and plastic bags.
- Washington Post blog featuring a study on the psychology behind why five-cent bag fees work.
- NRCM blog post supporting Portland’s choice to implement five-cent fees on single-use disposable shopping bags.
- Reusable bag program in Montgomery County, MD website, which covers 20 municipalities that all charge five cents for single-use disposable plastic and paper bags.
- City of Seattle plastic bag ban website This page offers examples of useful flyers and survey results indicating the success of the ordinance in reducing single-use disposable bags.
- Skip the Bag, Save the River website Washington, DC District of the Environment page with links to reputable surveys, studies, and articles that support their program for five-cent fees for all single use disposable bags.
