(a)  Retail sales establishments are prohibited from making available any bag that is not a reusable bag or recyclable paper bag, as defined by this chapter. Recyclable cardboard boxes, as defined in this chapter, may also be made available. This prohibition precludes providing any single-use plastic checkout bag or any paper checkout bag that is not a recyclable paper bag or a paper carryout bag at restaurants.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-19.18-3

  • Recyclable paper bag: means a paper bag that is one hundred percent (100%) recyclable including the handles, contains at least forty percent (40%) post-consumer paper content, and displays the words "Recyclable" and the percentage of post-consumer paper content in a visible manner on the outside of the bag. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-19.18-2
  • Reusable bag: means a bag with handles that are stitched and is specifically designed and manufactured for one hundred twenty-five (125) or more reuses, and is made primarily of washable cloth, other durable woven or nonwoven fabric, polyester, polypropylene, or other durable plastic with a minimum thickness of four (4. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-19.18-2
  • Single-use plastic checkout bag: means a carryout bag that is provided to the customer at the point of sale for the purpose of transporting groceries or other retail goods, and is made from compostable or non-compostable plastic and not specifically designed and manufactured for multiple re-use. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-19.18-2

(b)  Retail sales establishments and other entities that make deliveries of goods from retail sales establishments to customers are prohibited from delivering goods to customers in single-use plastic checkout bags and may deliver goods in recyclable paper bags, reusable bags, or recyclable cardboard boxes as defined by this chapter.

(c)  To further promote the use of reusable shopping bags and reduce the quantity of single-use carryout bags entering the waste stream, retailers are authorized and encouraged to make reusable carryout bags available to the public, assisting financially impacted households to the greatest degree possible.

History of Section.
P.L. 2022, ch. 176, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 177, § 1.