Washington's single-use plastic bag ban

Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington’s recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment. Washington's Plastic Bag Ban will reduce pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags and charging a fee for acceptable bags in businesses beginning in October 2021.

icon of a plastic ban inside a red circle with a slash

Allowed and banned bags

   

Large paper carryout bags: $0.08

Large paper carryout bags are 882 cubic inches or larger. They must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled content or wheat straw, and they must be labeled with this percentage on the bag.

   

Small paper bags: Charge optional

Stores are not required to charge for small paper bags (bags smaller than 882 cubic inches). However, all paper bags must meet the 40% post consumer recycled content or wheat straw minimum and be labeled with this percentage on the bag.

   

Thick, reusable plastic bags: $0.08 until Dec. 31, 2025, and $0.12 starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Must be 2.25 mil thickness, contain 40% post-consumer recycled content, and be labeled with these requirements as well as the word “reusable” on the bag.

   

 

Plastic produce bags: No charge

Plastic produce bags used by customers in store are exempt from the ban.

   

 

Compostable bags: Not recommended

Compostable bags are not accepted at most commercial composting facilities in Washington. Before you offer these bags, reach out to your local composting facility to ensure they are accepted.

    

Reusable bags

Bringing your own clean and reusable bag is the best option. Using your own reusable bag is free.

  

Single-use plastic carryout bags: Banned

All single-use plastic carryout bags are banned.

 

Green, brown, and beige plastic bags: Banned

Only compostable bags can be tinted green or brown (Chapter 70A.455 RCW). No bag can use the following misleading labels: "biodegradable," "decomposable," "degradable."

Ban benefits state's recycling system

During the 2020 legislative session, the Legislature passed a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, an effort to reduce plastic pollution, litter, and waste.

This ban will benefit the state's recycling system on several fronts:

  • Reducing contamination in the recycling and compost systems
  • Promoting reuse and recycled content
  • Building consistency in policy and enforcement across the state
  • Supporting the recycled paper industry

As Washington transitions away from single-use plastic bags, we will continue to provide technical assistance, education, and outreach materials to businesses and the public. We collaborated with local governments, retailers, business associations, and non-profits to begin this effort, and have developed a bag ban outreach toolkit that is formatted for accessibility and available in 17 languages.

Using our reporting form, anyone may submit an observation of businesses not in compliance with thes requirements. We will use this information to follow up with businesses to ensure their understanding of the new law. Repeated non-compliance may result in penalties.

  • Ecology’s 2022 litter study estimates 18.7 million plastic carryout bags are littered annually.
  • Plastic bags clog recycling facility machinery when placed in recycling bins with recyclable materials.
  • Plastic pollution poses both physical and chemical threats to marine environments.
  • Reusable bags are the best alternative to single-use bags because they reduce environmental costs of production, transportation, waste and litter.

The single-use plastic bag ban:

  • Prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets.
  • Requires an 8-cent charge for all recycled content paper or wheat straw paper carryout bags. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the law requires a 12-cent charge for all reusable carryout bags made of thick film plastic.
  • Exempts people on food assistance programs from paying the fee for paper or plastic film carryout bags. This fee may not be collected from anyone using or presenting a voucher or electronic benefits card issued under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food Assistance Program (FAP).
  • Requires paper bags be made of a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content, 40% wheat straw, or a combination of the two materials equal to 40% and labeled with these specifications.
  • Requires thick, reusable plastic bags be made of at least 40% post-consumer recycled content, at least 2.25 mil thick, and labeled with these specifications and the word “Reusable.”
  • Requires retailers and restaurants that distribute plastic bags that are 4-mil thick or greater apply an additional 4-cent charge to the 12-cent bag fee (16-cents total). This penalty will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027. Businesses that provide 4-mil thick bags must deposit the 4-cent penalty in the Washington State waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account under Chapter 70A.200.140 RCW
  • Creates consistent policy and fees across the state. 
  • Limits only compostable bags can be tinted green or brown (Chapter 70A.455 RCW). No bag can use the following misleading labels: "biodegradable," "decomposable," "degradable."

This ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, however, those programs are encouraged to take actions to reduce the use of single-use plastic carryout bags.

Frequently asked questions