SB 270 Summary

• Prohibits large grocery stores and retail establishments with specified sales or floor space from providing single-use carryout bags starting July 1, 2015, with expanded requirements for convenience stores starting July 1, 2016.

• Requires stores to charge a minimum of $0.10 for recycled paper bags and reusable grocery bags, with exceptions for customers using WIC or SNAP benefits.

• Establishes certification requirements for reusable grocery bag producers through third-party ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories, with bags requiring durability standards, labeling, and recycled content minimums of 20% (starting January 1, 2016) and 40% (starting January 1, 2020).

• Creates the Reusable Grocery Bag Fund from certification fees to support implementation and establishes civil penalties of $1,000-$5,000 per day for violations.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount for loans to manufacture and recycle plastic reusable grocery bags with recycled content.