Hawaii has now become the first U.S. state to completely ban plastic bags at grocery stores. The state of California recently passed a law that mandates stores to charge for reusable bags, but the measure is pending a referendum scheduled in November. Unlike the California ban, which was approved by the state legislature, Hawaii's plastic bag ban was instituted at the county level.
Effective Wednesday, grocery stores as well as retailers across Oahu, Hawaii's most populated island, have been prohibited from providing plastic checkout bags to customers, making Oahu the last populated island in the state to forbid the use of plastic bags, according to The Huffington Post.
The ban includes all plastic checkout bags, defined as "a carryout bag provided by a business to transport groceries or other retail goods made from non-compostable plastic and not designed for multiple reuse," according to Hawaii News Now.
Retailers will be allowed to provide customers recyclable paper bags, compostable plastic bags and reusable bags, including plastic bags no less than 2.25 mils in thickness.
City Environmental Services Director Lori Kahikina imposed the ban three years after it was signed by Peter Carlisle, who was the mayor at the time, reported the Washington Times.
