The bill aims to mitigate the environmental impact of single-use plastic carryout bags in Washington State by prohibiting their use and implementing a pass-through charge of 20 cents on compliant paper carryout bags. It includes exceptions for individuals using state-administered assistance programs and mandates that bags provided by retail establishments must contain recycled content or be made from nonwood renewable fiber. The legislation also emphasizes the need for increased capacity in paper bag manufacturing to meet the expected demand following the ban on plastic bags. Key definitions are updated, including the introduction of terms like "film plastic" and "third-party platform," and enforcement will primarily rely on complaints filed with the Department of Ecology.

Furthermore, the bill establishes civil penalties for violations, with fines of up to $250 for retail establishments and significantly higher penalties for manufacturers or distributors of non-compliant bags, escalating from $2,000 for the first violation to $10,000 for subsequent violations. It also preempts local carryout bag ordinances, removing previous provisions that allowed for certain local regulations until 2026. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2028, streamlining regulations across the state while promoting sustainable practices in retail environments.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 70A.530.005, 70A.530.020, 70A.530.030, 70A.530.040, 70A.530.050