Carry out bag fees start July 1

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, June 1, 2018

HONOLULU – Department of Environmental Services (ENV) reminds the public of changes to the plastic bag ban taking effect Sunday, July 1, 2018.  Among the changes is the requirement for businesses to charge a minimum of 15 cents per compostable, recyclable paper or reusable bag they provide to customers to transport merchandise.  

Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, Sections 9-9.1 through 9-9.4, regulates the usage of plastic bags on O‘ahu.

Bill 59 (2016), FD1, CD3, which was passed unanimously by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell in 2017, amended the plastic bag ban ordinance to require businesses to charge a minimum 15 cent fee per bag starting July 1, 2018.  By January 1, 2020, businesses will no longer be able to provide compostable plastic bags or plastic film bags with a thickness of 10 mils or less at the point of sale to transport merchandise.

ENV sent notices to more than 10,000 businesses in November 2017 informing them of the upcoming changes and sent a follow-up reminder in April 2018.

For more information on the plastic bag ban and use of plastic bags on O‘ahu, please go to www.opala.org.

—PAU—

Big Q: Will a 15-cent per-bag fee, effective July 1, incentivize you to bring your own bags when shopping?

SA: 15-cent shopping bag fee begins July 1