|
Starting January 1, 2020, retailers in unincorporated Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, and City of Port Orchard are prohibited from offering thin plastic carryout bags to customers at checkout. Retailers in Silverdale (an unincorporated area) are affected by the ban.
Paper bags or thick plastic bags may be provided to customers for a minimum of eight cents each. Paper bags must have a minimum of 40% recycled content. Stores will keep the eight cents to help cover the cost of providing bags.
|
|
 |
Customers who use WIC, TANF, SNAP, or FAP food assistance programs will not be charged the bag fee.
Plastic bag ordinances were adopted by the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners on August 12, 2019, the Bremerton City Council on June 6, 2019, and the Port Orchard City Council on August 20, 2019.
Bring your own bags to avoid paper bag fee
Everyone is encouraged to bring their own bags to the store!
Visit the Bring Your Own Bag web page to get tips for remembering your bags. While supplies last, Kitsap residents can get a free reusable bag at:
- Kitsap Regional Library locations and home delivery service
- Givens Community and Senior Center in Port Orchard
- North Kitsap Senior Center in Poulsbo
|
|
 |
Which businesses are affected?
All retail businesses in unincorporated Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, and City of Port Orchard are affected by the ordinance, including grocery stores; corner and convenience stores; pharmacies; department stores; home improvement stores; clothing stores; farmers markets; food and catering trucks; fair, event, and festival vendors; and all other establishments that sell goods.
Businesses in unincorporated Kitsap County or City of Port Orchard can contact solidwaste@co.kitsap.wa.us or 360-337-5777 with questions about the laws.
Retailers in Bremerton can contact Bremerton1@ci.Bremerton.wa.us or 360-473-5920 with questions about the law.
Reporting non-compliance
To report retailers that are not complying with the law, contact Kitsap1 using the SeeClickFix mobile app or website.
Retailers are permitted to use up plastic bag supplies that were in-store before January 1, 2020.
Before reporting a retailer for non-compliance with the plastic bag laws, please verify they are within unincorporated Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, or City of Port Orchard boundaries.
Plastic bag bans are not in place for City of Poulsbo, federal military installations, or tribal lands.
|
|
 |
|
