Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect on Oct 22 at Providence Retailers
GoLocalProv News Team
Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect on Oct 22 at Providence Retailers
The ordinance was originally vetoed by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza in 2018, before the Providence City Council revised it in March of 2019.
“I am proud to announce that tonight the Council’s Committee on Finance took up the Retail Plastic Bag Reduction Act that I introduced last year. This initiative is a thoughtful and measured approach to reducing the number of carryout plastic bags distributed and our dependence on them in our communities, and the adverse effects they have on our environment,” said City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan at the time.
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The ordinance prohibits retailers from offering single-use plastic bags at the checkout counter.
Allowed alternatives include reusable bags and recyclable paper bags that contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper.
The ordinance does not permit bio-based plastic bags as an alternative to single-use plastic bags.
Bags used to hold and/or transport produce will be exempt, as are laundry bags and dry-cleaning bags, newspaper bags and bags used to contain or wrap frozen foods, meat or fish.
Retailers in violation of the ordinance will be issued a warning. Additional violations within one year of first notice will be assessed a $50 fine for the second offense; and a $100 fine for the third and each subsequent offense.
All revenue collected as a result of these violations will be committed to future community outreach around recycling and waste education.
Retailers may be granted an exemption if they can demonstrate unique circumstances such that the retailer requires additional time in order to draw down an existing inventory of single-use plastic check out bags; there are no reasonable alternatives to bags that are not Recyclable Paper Bags or Reusable Bags; or that would deprive a person of a legally-protected right.
The Director of the Office of Sustainability may approve the exemption request, in whole or in part, with or without conditions on a case-by-case basis.