Rhode Island Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect January 1

Under the "Plastic Waste Reduction Act" about to take effect in Rhode Island, the issuance of single-use plastic bags is taboo. The law bans retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags to customers at the point of sale.

The new law takes effect on January 1, 2024.

Little Rhody already bans the issuance of single-use plastic straws unless specifically requested by a customer.

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Effective January 1, 2025, a new law prevents covered food service establishments "from processing, preparing, selling, or providing food or beverages in or on containers "made in whole or in part of polystyrene foam."

Also banned as of January 1, 2025 will be plastic beverage stirrers.

The single-use plastic bag ban was signed into law by Governor Dan McKee in 2022, but implementation was put on hold until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban impacts retail establishments, including grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management says businesses can still issue paper bags, reusable bags, or bags made from compostable materials. DEM suggests shoppers bring reusable bags.

According to a statement from Governor McKee, the Plastic Waste Reduction Act shows Rhode Island is "committed to addressing plastic pollution."

The DEM says, "Eighteen of 39 Rhode Island communities have passed similar plastic bag bans. The law ensures a uniform and consistent legal standard statewide on plastic bags."

There is no national ban on single-use plastic bags. However, the states of California, Connecticut, Deleware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, North Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have banned disposable bags.

Colorado will join Rhode Island in implementing a ban on the bags on January 1, 2024.

According to the Sierra Club, "As of May 2023, 159 Massachusetts cities and towns representing over 4 million people or two-thirds of the state's population regulate single-use plastic shopping bags."