Reusable Bags
Definition
The reusable bags that your store or eating establishment offers for sale at checkout must have handles and be designed and manufactured to:
- Have a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, which means capable of carrying a minimum of 22 pounds 125 times over a distance of at least 175 feet
- Hold a minimum volume of 15 liters
- Be machine washable or made from a material that can be cleaned or disinfected
- Be at least 2.25 mils thick, if made of plastic
- Have printed on the bag or on a permanent tag all of the following:
- Name of the manufacturer
- Country of manufacture
- A true statement that the bag does not contain lead, cadmium or other heavy metal in toxic amounts
- Percent of post-consumer recycled material used in the bag, if any
Sources for Compliant Reusable Plastic Bags
Recycled Content Paper Bags
Definition
The requirements for compliant paper bags are as follows:
- Paper bags must contain no old growth fibers
- Bags must be a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content paper
- Bags must be 100 percent recyclable and compostable, including the handles
- Bags must have all the following information printed in a highly visible manner on the outside of the bag (bottom is okay):
- The word “recyclable”
- Name and country of the manufacturer
- The percentage of post-consumer recycled content paper
Testing Reusable Bags
- If you are a bag distributor or manufacturer and wish to test and certify that your reusable bag meets Ordinance 2016-2 standards, please refer to these Testing Protocols (PDF).
- If you are a bag vendor with a reusable bag tested for compliance with Ordinance 2016-02 and would like to be added to the list of complaint reusable bags, send an email to bags@stopwaste.org.