Roundtable: Tukwila Bag Ordinance

The Tukwila City Council is considering legislation that would regulate carryout bags at retail stores. Plastic bags can block storm drains, litter the streets, pollute waterways, clog recycling facilities, contaminate compost, threaten wildlife, and more.  Paper bags, while an improvement, require resources and fuel to manufacture and transport. Over 33 cities and counties in Washington State have adopted similar legislation.

You are invited to a community roundtable to provide your feedback before the public hearing is held on November 12.

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 an 8 cent 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 or more thick.
• Retail stores could provide smaller paper bags or non-film 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 fee.
• Plastic bags used for bulk items or to protect vegetables, meat, fish and poultry, frozen foods, flowers, deli foods, 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 effective date 9 months after passage to give retailers and residents time to prepare.