The bill aims to repeal existing restrictions and fees on plastic carryout bags in Washington State, based on findings from a study conducted by Washington State University. The study revealed that while the use of plastic carryout bags decreased by 50%, the overall plastic usage increased by 17%, and the fees charged to consumers were insufficient to cover the costs of thicker plastic bags. To address these issues, the bill proposes to remove the requirement for retailers to provide reusable carryout bags, allowing them to offer plastic bags that are less than 2.25 mils thick, while still mandating that all carryout bags contain at least 40% postconsumer recycled content.

Additionally, the bill amends existing definitions and requirements related to carryout bags. It removes the term "reusable carryout bag" from the definitions and adjusts the language regarding the types of bags that can be provided by retail establishments. The bill also clarifies the pass-through charge for compliant paper carryout bags and establishes that all revenue from these charges will be retained by the retail establishments. Overall, the legislation seeks to simplify the regulations surrounding carryout bags while maintaining some environmental standards.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 70A.530.020