BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Washington State’s new statewide plastic bag ban has taken over for the City of Bellingham’s nine year old ordinance.
The city says local consumers will see a few changes under the state’s law.
The fee to get an allowable bag from a restaurant or retailer will be 8-cents, up from Bellingham’s current 5-cents.
Those include large paper bags with at least 40% recycled content or thick re-usable plastic bags with 20% recycled material.
They can also give out green or brown compostable bags.
The Department of Ecology will take over enforcement of the bag ban.