Plastic Bag Ban to Take Effect in Gig Harbor City Effective April

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The ban on single-use plastic bags will take effect in Gig Harbor City, Washington effective April 18, 2019. The Council reminded the residents to make necessary behavioral changes to get them accustomed to the new law.

The City Council had passed the “Bring Your Own Bag” ordinance in a meeting held on December 10, 2018 in a 5-2 vote. It had stated that the ordinance will take effect in six-month time.

The Ordinance 1403 restricts retail outlets from providing thin, single-use, two-handle, plastic carry-out bags for carrying their purchases. The ban applies to retail establishments including grocery store, department store, hardware store, pharmacy, liquor store, restaurant, catering truck, convenience store, and any other retail store or vendor, including temporary ones at farmers markets, street fairs, and festivals.

The amendments made to the ordinance allow distribution of used plastic bags and gives retail stores the power to fix the rate of alternative paper bags.

The bags used by consumers inside stores to package bulk items are exempted from the ban. Plastic bags used for take-out orders, newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, tire bags, laundry-dry cleaning bags or bags sold in packages containing multiple bags for uses such as food storage, garbage, pet waste or yard waste are also exempted.

The violation of the ordinance shall result in issuance of written notice of violation during the first two-year period. Following this grace period, during the third and successive years, violations will attract a penalty of not exceeding $250.