As of today, retailers in Connecticut are required to collect a fee of 10 cents for every single-use plastic checkout bag. Here is what you need to know.
The store must indicate the number of single-use plastic checkout bags provided and the total amount of the fee on the customer’s receipt.
WHAT IS A SINGLE-USE CHECKOUT BAG:
"Single-use checkout bag" means a plastic bag with a thickness of less than four mils.
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.
WHAT BAGS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE FEE?
- Paper bags
- Reusable plastic bags that are four mils or thicker
- A bag provided prior to checkout that is used only to contain meat, seafood, loose produce or other unwrapped food items
- A newspaper bag
- A laundry or dry-cleaning bag
PLASTIC BAG TAX VS. PLASTIC BAG BAN
Local
The fee is in effect from Aug. 1, 2019, through June 30, 2021. Single-use plastic checkout bags are scheduled to be banned after that.
