AUGUSTA – The House voted 91-52 in favor of legislation that would ban single-use plastic carryout bags statewide. The bill, LD 1532, was introduced by Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, with heavy involvement from co-sponsors Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, and Rep. Dave McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield.

“The health of our marine life is essential to the industries that drive our economy in Maine. And yet, our own pollution is putting that marine life at risk,” said Stover. “We frequently allow plastic bags to end up in our coastal waters. We need to make a change. It is time our state steps up and takes action to protect the wildlife that supports our way of life.”

Plastic bags have an overwhelming impact on Maine’s environment and an adverse impact on the state’s ecosystems. As a response, 24 municipalities in Maine have instituted local bans on single use plastic bags. Hoping for a consistent law that would apply throughout the state, the Retail Association of Maine and Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association worked closely with legislators to craft this bill.

“The business community is asking us for stability. Rather than grappling with a patchwork of local ordinances, they would prefer to have a universal statewide policy,” said Grohoski. “This bill is an example of government, business and the environmental community coming together to create a law that works for everyone. It’s good policy that I am hopeful will become law.”

The legislation prohibits a retail establishment from using single-use plastic carry-out bags at the point of sale. As an alternative, businesses may offer customers paper bags, however, grocers and large retailers must charge a minimum five cent fee per bag. These regulations would go into effect on April 22, 2020 to allow businesses adequate time to adjust. This law would exempt certain bags including bags for produce, prescription drugs, newspapers, laundry and live animals, such as fish. 

“Not only does this bill solve an immediate problem of plastic bag pollution, it helps train Mainers to be better stewards of the environment,” said McCrea. “We all need to think twice about what we waste and how that impacts our world. Our future generations deserve nothing less than our best efforts to protect the environment that they will inherit.”

The bill, which was worked by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, now heads for a vote in the Senate.