New Hampshire Considers Phased Abolition of Single-Use Plastic Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The House Bill 560 that proposes to impose ban on single-use plastic bags in a phased manner has won approval vote in the State House of Representatives and is currently under review by the Senate Commerce Committee.

The bill restricts the distribution of single-use carry out bags made of plastic, paper or other materials by stores and food service businesses to customers at the point of sale. The ban will not be applicable to pharmacy bags, paper bags for take-out food, plastic bags for wrapping meat, poultry, seafood or other unwrapped food such as grains and laundry bags.

The ban will come into effect six months from the date of passage. For a period of four months from the effective date, retail shops will be allowed to distribute plastic bags by charging a dime or more. After four months, distribution single-use plastic bags will be banned completely. Thereafter, stores shall provide only reusable plastic or recycled paper bags to customers for no less than 10 cents. The fees thus collected could be retained by the business. Those exempt from bag fee include Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), and Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) users.

The bill also states that all businesses exceeding 10,000 square feet are required to provide at least one bin for collecting and recycling other plastic products not covered by the ban.

The response to the House Bill has been mixed. Proponents cite environmental and human health, costs of plastic pollution and the difficulties associated with disposal of such bags as the benefits. On the other hand, opponents feel that the bill is likely to pass on additional costs to consumers and put unnecessary burden on small businesses.