Frequently Asked Questions

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The plastic and paper single-use carryout bag ban has many requirements and some exceptions. In general, the law prohibits all Stores, Food Service Businesses, and Grocery Stores from selling or providing their customers with single use plastic carryout bags. In addition, Grocery Stores that occupy at least 2,500 square feet may not provide single-use paper carryout bags.

A "single-use plastic carryout bag" is a carryout bag made of plastic that is not a reusable carry out bag as defined by the law. These are prohibited from being provided in all retail establishments. There are some exceptions.  There is no minimum thickness for a bag to be considered reusable. No single-use plastic carryout bags, regardless of the thickness of the plastic, are allowed to be provided or sold.

A "single-use paper carryout bag" is a carryout bag made of paper that is not a reusable carryout bag as defined by the law. These are only prohibited from being provided in Grocery Stores larger than 2,500 square feet.

Yes, the definition for reusable carryout bag only applies to the bags that stores and businesses are allowed to provide or sell to customers.

No, only single-use carryout bags are included in the portion of the law. Trash bags continue to be allowable to purchase in stores.

Biodegradable plastics are defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as “a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally-occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae”.

Biodegradation is defined by the EPA as, “A process by which microbial organisms transform or alter (through metabolic or enzymatic action) the structure of chemicals introduced into the environment.”The biodegradation process breaks down everything from yard waste to crude oil. It is a natural process that keeps our planet clean and healthy. Unfortunately, the rate at which we are producing waste far outpaces the rate of natural biodegradation, leading to an unsustainable state. As landfills fill up at record rates, air, water and soil pollution is increasing.

Plastics made with our additives are designed to biodegrade in landfill environments where more than 85% of plastics end up. 

Oxo-degradable plastics require oxygen and UV light to biodegrade—two things not found in landfills. Plastics treated with our additive are designed to biodegrade in both aerobic & anaerobic environments, like landfills. Oxo-degradable plastics cannot be used with all common packaging plastics. Our additives can be added to just about any type of plastic. Oxo-degradable plastics can leave behind harmful byproducts.  Our treated plastics break down completely, forming inert biomass and can generate clean energy. 

Our additives are designed to allow plastic to biodegrade in landfill environments rich with microbes but lacking oxygen and UV light. Plastics made with our additive product are biodegradable in both aerobic and anaerobic environments, making them ideal for landfills, where most plastics are discarded.

Contrary to popular belief, plastics contribute just 2% of the methane gas released each year. By comparison, wetlands at 30%, agriculture at 27%, energy at 23% and waste at 11% are the leading contributors to methane production. With private ownership of landfills increasing, the capture of this by-product is being repurposed as energy to power both businesses and municipalities.