Due to the harm caused by waste plastics on our community and environment, the City Council is considering legislation that would regulate the use of bags at retail establishments. Like other cities in Washington, Tukwila’s bill would prohibit stores from giving out single-use plastic carryout bags and encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags. View more about the environmental impacts here: Carryout Bag Ordinance Presentation
Under the proposal:
- All Tukwila retail stores would be prohibited from providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags.
- Retail stores in Tukwila could provide customers with any size recyclable paper or reusable carryout bags, however stores must charge and retain a small pass-through fee for paper bags of 1/8 barrel (882 cubic inches) or larger containing at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber, or for plastic film bags 2.25 mils thick.
- Retail stores could provide smaller paper bags for a fee or no cost at their discretion.
- Retail stores could provide non-film plastic reusable bags for a fee or no cost at their discretion.
- Customers using state or federal food assistance programs would not have to pay the pass-through bag fee.
- Plastic bags used for bulk items or to protect vegetables, meat, fish and poultry, frozen foods, flowers, deli foods, restaurant take-out, or other items where moisture is a problem would still be allowed.
- Dry-cleaner, newspaper and door-hanger bags and plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for waste would still be allowed.
- The City Council’s Public Safety Committee has recommended an implementation period of 9 months to allow businesses and community members time to prepare.
The City Council is holding a public hearing at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber.
All interested persons are invited to be present to voice approval, disapproval, or opinions on this issue. For those unable to attend in person, you may submit written testimony to the City Clerk’s office until 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Tukwila City Hall is wheelchair accessible. The City strives to accommodate people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available at the public hearing with advance notice. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at TukwilaCityClerk@Tukwilawa.gov for assistance.