Seattle Common council prohibited plastic carryout bags back in 2011 So why are they back– in a thicker kind?
Seattle citizens likely can keep in mind a time in between 2012 and 2020 where plastic carryout bags were not provided at food store and other retail establishments. Just paper bags were readily available. This was the outcome of a regulation passed by Seattle City Council in 2011, which achieved success in reducing plastic bags in the waste stream and as clutter in the environment.
Throughout the 2010 s, 38 various other local governments in Washington also adopted plastic bag restrictions. All this momentum led the Washington State Legislature to outlaw plastic bags statewide in 2020 However, the expense that passed included an exception: It enabled sellers to offer thicker “reusable” plastic bags. Therefore, we now are seeing thick plastic bags being used alongside– and, significantly, instead of– paper bags. These thick plastic bags were allowed with the intent that they would be recycled multiple times– under the legislation, they should be designed to have a minimal lifetime of 125 usages– but multiple researches performed since show that these bags are seldom made use of more than as soon as. Due to the density need, these bags really produce a lot more plastic waste than the previous slim plastic bags.
These thick plastic bags have been seen backwards and forwards the West Coastline as The golden state and Oregon passed similar statewide bag prohibits that likewise permitted thicker plastic bags to be sold if designed to be “reusable.” Throughout the beginning of the COVID- 19 pandemic, false information that single-use plastics, like plastic bags, were much safer than multiple-use things added to the increase in use of store-provided thick plastic bags. Although this insurance claim was disproven, the majority of stores in Seattle stopped permitting customers to bring their own multiple-use bags for a period of time. As soon as allowed under state law, shops started using thick plastic bags together with or instead of paper bags.
What Can We Do Concerning It?
SPU has listened to dissatisfaction from lots of Seattle homeowners about the return of plastic bags in stores– and we concur. Thick plastic bags develop unneeded plastic waste and contamination, posture obstacles for our recycling program, and weaken our city’s success in constructing a society of waste reduction and reuse. Currently, we can ask Washington’s Legislature to shut the technicality on thicker plastic bags and eliminate them forever. California and Oregon each amended their statewide bag restriction in the last two years to shut this technicality. In 2026, SPU will certainly team up with our ecological and local government partners to advocate for Washington to do the exact same.
In the meantime, please remain to bring your own recyclable bags to stores or opt for paper over plastic. Thanks!
Questions? Please e-mail Maggie Yuse , SPU Elder Plan Advisor and State Legal Liaison