Austin, TX Plastic Bag Ban

A proposed draft ordinance has the City of Austin potentially enacting one of the broadest bag bans in the nation, prohibiting disposable (‘single-use’) paper and plastic bags at all checkout counters in January 2016. The proposed ordinance will allow retailers to provide the currently available thin, single-use plastic bags for a $0.25/bag fee starting in 2013. City officials believe that over the three year period leading up to the complete ban will enable consumers and retailers to get accustom to the change. After much debate, Austin City Council approved a meaningful reusable bag ordinance on March 2nd, 2012. The final ordinance language includes a phase out of both plastic and paper checkout bags starting in March 2013.