Posted on July 23, 2019
It is now even more important to remember your reusable bags when you head to the store.
Starting on August 1st, a $0.10 fee will be charged on every single-use plastic checkout bag at stores across the state. After June 30, 2021, these bags are scheduled to be banned.
A “Single-use checkout bag” is one with a thickness of less than four mils that is provided by a store or restaurant to a customer at the point of sale. It does not include: (A) a paper bag; (B) a reusable plastic bag (four mils or thicker); (C) a bag provided prior to checkout that is used only to contain meat, seafood, loose produce or other unwrapped food items; (D) a newspaper bag; or (E) a laundry or dry cleaning bag.
All retailers who make sales in the State of Connecticut of tangible personal property to the public are required to collect this fee.
Please be aware that municipalities are permitted to enact or enforce an ordinance concerning single-use checkout bags made of plastic, provided such ordinance is as restrictive or more restrictive than the new state law. Municipalities are also permitted to enact or enforce an ordinance concerning single-use checkout bags made of paper – including, but not limited to, enabling each store to charge a fee for any such bag distributed to a customer. Any such municipal fees are subject to sales and use taxes.
For more information, please see this fact sheet provided by the Department of Revenue Services.
