The ordinance will affect all establishments that make bags available at the point of sale, distribution, or other departure point. These businesses include indoor and outdoor establishments that offer food or other products to the public for sale, including:

• Supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Shops
• Service stations
• Department stores
• Clothing stores
• Restaurants
• Food trucks
• Delivery services

The legislation prohibits establishments in Lawrence from providing certain single-use disposable bags to a customer at the point of sale, distribution, or other departure point.

This includes:

• Plastic bags that are less than 4.0 mils in thickness, with or without handles.
• Paper bags that do not contain at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled content, or that do not meet the labeling criteria set in the legislation.

Establishments can provide reusable bags and compliant paper bags that meet certain criteria.

• Reusable bags are permitted if they are made of nylon, cotton, cloth, polyester, or another material that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuses.
• If made of plastic, a reusable bag must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled content and must measure at least 4.0 mils in thickness. Plastic reusable bags must be labeled with the post-consumer recycled content percentage, the mil thickness, and the word “reusable” on the bag.
• Only paper bags containing at least 40% post-consumer recycled content are permitted. The single-use disposable paper bags must be labeled with the post-consumer recycled content percentage.

Yes.

The ordinance includes a few exemptions. These include the following establishments:

• Religious and charitable institutions, except when engaged in the commercial sale or distribution of perishable or non-perishable items to consumers.
• Schools, except when engaged in the commercial sale or distribution of perishable or non-perishable items to consumers.
• Not-for-profit organizations, except when engaged in the commercial sale or distribution of perishable or non-perishable items to consumers.
• Farmers’ markets.

The sales of the following items are also exempt:

• Live animals, such as fish, insects or the like
• Prescriptions
• Newspapers
• Laundry or dry cleaning (garment bags)

• Produce (produce or product bags).

  Produce or product bags are any type of disposable plastic bag used exclusively to carry produce, meats, fish or seafood, frozen foods, breads, pastries, nuts, candy, flowers, prepared foods, jewelry and bulk items from their location within an establishment to the point of sale.

  These bags are used to prevent contamination from items and can continue to be used for such a purpose.

No, there are no signage requirements; however, the City is working on a sign package that establishments are welcome (and encouraged!) to utilize. That package will get added to this webpage in early 2024, or you can email City of Lawrence communications staff and ask to have the sign designs emailed to you once they are available: citycommunications@lawrenceks.org. Please note: The City will provide the designs and it will be up to the individual establishments to print and display them.

As of March 1, 2024, establishments will no longer be permitted to distribute single-use plastic bags and non-compliant paper bags. Chain stores with outlets outside of Lawrence can ship any remaining bag inventory to other outlets. Retailers may also consider recycling their remaining plastic bags or donating them to nonprofits who may have use of them.

Yes, businesses can decide whether to provide reusable bags or compliant paper bags for free or for a cost.

Ordinance No. 9996 will be enforced by City of Lawrence staff. Any violation of the ordinance by an establishment will result in a municipal offense for the person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls the establishment. If the person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls the establishment continues to violate Ordinance No. 9996 after an initial warning, and if the person is found guilty or enters a plea of no contest, they will be subject to the following punishment:

1. A maximum fine of $100.00 upon first conviction.
2. A maximum fine of $200.00 upon second conviction, if it occurs within one calendar year of the first conviction.
3. A maximum fine of $500 upon third or any subsequent conviction, if it occurs within one calendar year of the first conviction.