Many states and provinces across the US and Canada have been moving towards banning many types of single-use plastics since the early 2000s. Most have started with single-use plastic shopping bags – either charging for their use or banning them altogether. As we look at these bans, we have to ask what’s next and what can each of us do on an individual level? There is still a long way to go.
According to Waste Management US, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags each year. Single-use plastic bags end up in landfills and the ocean, harming birds, sea turtles, fish, and causing toxic microplastics to be consumed through our food and air.
California
In the United States, California was the first state to pass a statewide single-use plastic bag ban in 2014.
2014
2015
Hawaii
Each of Hawaii’s five islands individually banned single-use plastic bags at different times; the final ban.

Illinois
A bill was passed to place a fee on single-use plastic shopping bags. It was later implemented in February 2017.
2016
2018
Seattle, Washington
Single-use plastic straws are banned in Seattle. Bars and restaurants are no longer permitted to give customers plastic straws or utensils – including forks, knives, spoons, and stir sticks.

Quebec, Canada
Montreal bans single-use plastic bags. The city previously used 2 billion plastic bags annually, and just 14% of those were recycled.
JUNE
2018
2019
Florida
Local governments in Florida can now ban single-use plastic straws.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria, BC bans single-use plastic bags from all stores in the city.
2019
JANUARY
2019
Rhode Island
Rhode Island introduced a bill to ban clamshell food containers. The ban also applies to caterers, food carts, food trucks, retail food stores, delis, grocery stores, cafeterias, coffee shops, hospitals, adult care facilities, nursing homes, schools, colleges and more, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. [Update: The ban will take effect January 2025]

New Orleans
New Orleans announces reductions in the materials that will be collected in its residential recycling program – this includes plastic bags, waxboard items like milk cartons, and plastic and polystyrene egg cartons.
MAY
2019
JULY
2019
Prince Edward Island, Canada
The province declares that retailers can no longer offer plastic checkout bags and will have to charge a minimum of 15 cents for a paper bag or a dollar for a reusable one.
Maine
New York State
Vermont
All three states move to ban single-use plastic bags.
2019
2020
Long Beach, California
Long Beach bans single-use polystyrene meat and veggie trays.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The city in Canada bans single-use foam products including foam cups and take-out containers.
JANUARY
2020
2020
New York
New York officially bans single-use plastic bags in October 2020.

Hoboken, New Jersey
The local government bans single-use styrofoam and all single-use plastic bags. The city hopes that this will help to move toward its goal of sending zero waste to landfills. The ban also applies to polystyrene egg cartons.
MARCH
2020
APRIL
2020
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The province bans plastic straws, styrofoam cups, and containers.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Canadian province becomes the second Canadian province to completely ban single-use plastic bags.
APRIL
2020
JULY
2020
Maryland
Maryland lawmakers approve a bill to ban foam food containers. (Delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic)

Jurisdictions in Maryland
including Baltimore, Westminster, and Takoma Park
New Jersey
Oregon
Washington
All states ban single-use plastic bags in 2020.
2020
2020
Berkely, California
The city rolls out a new law to reduce disposable food packaging. Restaurants must charge 25 cents for every disposable cup or to-go container.
Maine
Maine bans single-use foam containers.
2021
2021
Colorado
Connecticut
In 2021, Colorado and Connecticut pass a law to ban single-use plastic shopping bags.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Banff has introduced several laws around single-use plastic including banning single-use plastic bags, straws and stir sticks. They have also introduced fees for paper bags and takeout containers. Consumers can bring reusable cups and containers at dine-in restaurants and request reusable utensils for takeout food.
2021
2021
Virginia Governments
Five local Virginia governments joined the growing trend of taxing plastic shopping bags in hopes of reducing their usage and moving towards eliminating them altogether.
New Jersey
Ban takes effect in 2022 to ban foam packaging. The strict ban includes clamshell food containers, plates, coffee cups, meat and veggie trays, and cutlery.
2021
2021
New York
New York State is set to ban many foam products including food containers and packing peanuts. The ban applies to caterers, food carts, food trucks, and retail.
Canada
In 2022, Canada is set to implement a federal ban on single-use plastics. By the end of the year, the government had announced that the ban will include six single-use plastic items. These include: single-use plastic bags, coffee stir sticks, beverage six-pack rings, plastic cutlery, single-use plastic straws, and food packaging made from plastics that are not fully recyclable.
2021
2022
Canada
The Canadian government announced that the manufacturing, importing, exporting, and selling of the following categories of single-use plastics will be banned by the end of 2025: checkout bags, cutlery, food service packaging, drink ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws.
USA
The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced that by the end of 2032, it will stop selling single-use plastics in national parks, wildlife waste, and other public spaces.
JUNE
2022
JUNE
2022
California
California passed an aggressive new regulation to lessen plastics altogether. The law will guarantee a 25% drop in single-use plastic by 2032. It requires that at least 30% of plastic items sold or purchased in the state are recyclable by 2028. By 2032, 65% of all plastic items sold or circulated in California must be recyclable.
India
India begins to ban single-use plastics, including cups and straws. India has identified a list of 19 plastic items that will be illegal to produce, import, stock, distribute, or sell. India is home to factories that make over 243,000 metric tons of disposable plastic each year. Reducing the manufacturing and consequent waste of plastic is crucial for India to meet its target of reducing emissions in economic activity by 45% in eight years. This aggressive move by India shows the global urgency to reduce single-use plastic manufacturing and stop greenhouse gas emissions released by making plastic. Click here to view a plastics video on LinkedIn.
JULY
2022
DECEMBER
2022
Canada
Single-use plastic check-out bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks and straws will be prohibited from being manufactured in Canada or imported into the country.
California
More than 130 California cities have now passed laws to ban polystyrene foam including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. The ban in Los Angeles will take effect in April 2023 and will affect businesses with more than 26 employees.
DECEMBER
2022
APRIL
2023
San Diego
The San Diego Union-Tribune will put in place a ban that will cover polystyrene foam egg cartons, coolers, ice chests, pool toys, dock floats, mooring buoys and food trays.
Irvine, California
Irvine California is set to ban single-use plastics, including water bottles, bags, straws and even mylar balloons.
2024
JANUARY
2024
Colorado
Single-use plastic bags are banned as well as polystyrene foam takeout containers at most restaurants.
Washington
Washington banned foam food service products, including clamshell containers, plates and cups, along with recreational coolers and packing peanuts effective June 2024.
JUNE
2024
JULY
2024
Delaware
Restaurants and other food service establishments will be prohibited from providing polystyrene foam containers for ready-to-eat food or beverages effective July 2024.
Rhode Island
Restaurants and food service establishments will be banned from processing, preparing, selling or providing food or drinks in disposable food containers made from polystyrene foam effective January 2025. The law also blocks those establishments from providing plastic beverage stirrers.
JANUARY
2025
JANUARY
2025
Oregon
Oregon bans serving food in containers made from polystyrene foam effective January 2025.
California
California will require all packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable, that plastic packaging be cut by 25%, and that 65% of all single-use plastic packaging be recycled by 2032. It also established an EPR for packaging program that the state anticipates will raise billions of dollars from industry over a decade to put toward plastic pollution reduction efforts.
2032
The United States and Canada have a long way to go in reducing plastic and polystyrene foam waste. In 2022, big changes will happen to move North America in the right direction.
Similar to Walmart, some Canadian brands have also excluded plastic bags from their stores – including the national grocery chain, Sobeys, and the shoe brand Aldo.
Aside from single-use plastic bags, Canada is making moves to get rid of other single-use plastics and polystyrene foam products as well. Banff, Alberta has made significant changes in 2021.
Which states, provinces or businesses would you like to see make a move to ban single-use plastic and foam next? Hold them accountable and share how you’re reducing your plastic waste consumption. #ditchplasticpackaging
*The above information are subject to change based on local and state legislations. Laws for plastic bans are on-going. Consult your local jurisdiction for the most up-to-date information.