Plastic Bag Ordinance Takes Effect This June

GIG HARBOR, WA - The city on Wednesday reminded residents of the upcoming law change regarding the prohibition of single-use plastic bags in Gig Harbor, which is set to take effect June 18.

The Gig Harbor City Council on Dec. 10, 2018, passed the new "Bring Your Own Bag" ordinance in an effort to reduce plastic bag waste and litter around the city and encourage residents to choose reusable bags instead.

Following the council's approval, Gig Harbor joined 24 other Washington cities that have also enacted similar ordinances prohibiting or limiting the distribution of plastic bags at retailers.

When it takes effect four months from now, the city's new bag ordinance will impose the following changes:

• Thin plastic carryout bags may no longer be distributed at any Gig Harbor retail establishments.
• Retail establishments may collect a pass-through charge, up to the cost of the bag for each recycled paper bag requested by customers.
• Those with EBT/WIC/TANF benefits do not pay any pass-through charge on paper bags.

The ordinance will apply specifically to the following retail establishments:

• grocery stores
• department stores
• hardware stores
• pharmacies
• liquor stores
• restaurants
• catering trucks
• convenience stores
• any other retail store or vendor, including temporary ones at farmers markets, street fairs, and festivals.

"One city alone won't do much, but working together we can make a difference," Gig Harbor Councilwoman Jeni Woock told Patch before the council's vote last year. "To make our community cleaner, it's the right thing to do."

Referring to residents around Baby Boomer age, she said, "It's not fair to leave our mess to generations currently in college or high school."

For more information, visit CityOfGigHarbor.net.

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Related:

• Gig Harbor Weighs Plastic Waste Ordinance
• WA Lawmakers Want Statewide Plastic Bag Ban

Image via Travis Loose/Patch