Maine Bans Single-Use Plastic Grocery Bags By Earth Day 2020

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine is banning single-use plastic bags in grocery check-out lines by April 22, 2020.

House Democrats said Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill Monday with the goal of limiting plastic pollution.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says California, New York and all of Hawaii's counties ban plastic bags.

Retail groups in several other states have supported efforts to eliminate plastic bags.

Maine will allow stores to charge at least 5 cents for recyclable paper or reusable plastic bags. In order to be permitted, plastic bags would have to withstand 75 repeated uses and be made from heavier plastic.

The fee wouldn't apply to restaurants.

Plastic bag manufacturers say such bans will only lead to thicker, reusable bags in landfills.