Snohomish, Bremerton, and Port Orchard enact plastic bag bans

Start bringing your totes — plastic bag bans are among the new laws that will start being enforced come New Year’s Day in some Washington state areas.

It will cost you at least eight cents to buy a paper or thick plastic bag at stores in Bremerton, Port Orchard, and unincorporated Kitsap County. Paper bags must have a minimum of 40 percent recycled content, and people are encouraged to use and sell reusable bags.

Environmental expert: Plastic bag ban does more harm than good

Thin, plastic bags will no longer be allowed.

It will be a 10 cent charge in Snohomish for a paper bag at the register. Snohomish drafted the law in response concern in the community over the long-term negative environmental impacts made by plastic bags, among other plastic items. The ban is modeled on the similar motions in 27 other Western Washington cities.

Everett passes its own ban on single-use plastic bags

“It is the option that best balances and reconciles the economic impacts to the retailers and the consumer, provides substantial benefit to the environment, and provides for a reasonable amount of fairness between the retailer, the consumer and the government,” said Jason Sanders, Council President. “This ordinance, is also consistent with the proposed plastic bag restrictions at the state level,” he said.

Shoppers will be able to find plastic bags for meat, produce and bulk foods.