Plastic Bag Bans

For many years Alaska communities have struggled with windblown litter, a large portion of which are plastic bags.

Although Alaska has no statewide plastic bag ban, many communities across the state have enacted their own codes and ordinances banning them. There are also communities that are voluntarily no longer using them.

Below are communities with local bans. Text is excerpt only. Review local codes for full context.

Community	Date	Ban Details
Anchorage Municipality, including Chugiak, Eagle River, & Girdwood	2019	Municipal Code 15.95.20: A retail seller shall not provide a plastic shopping bag to a purchaser to carry away goods purchased from, or serviced by, the retail seller
Bethel	2009	Municipal Code 8.12.020: Affected retail establishments, food vendors and nonprofit vendors are prohibited from providing plastic carry-out bags to their customers at the point of sale to transport purchased items. It bans polystyrene (Styrofoam) from food service as well. City reported in 2019 that ban is not currently enforced.
Cordova	2016	Municipal Code 8.37.020: Plastic carry-out bag that is not intended nor suitable for continuous reuse and that is less than 2.25 mils thick.
Dillingham	2020	Municipal Code 8.04.120: No affected retail establishment may provide a new single-use plastic disposable shopping bag for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale. No person may distribute single-use plastic disposable shopping bags at any city facility or any event held on city property.
Galena	1998	Municipal Code 13.04.045: Plastic bags, used for carry out, in retail business shall be prohibited.
Haines	2020	Municipal Code 8.10.010: It shall be unlawful for all establishments in the borough to provide single-use, noncompostable plastic shopping bags for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale.
Homer	2020	Municipal Code 5.42.030: No seller may provide to a buyer any single-use plastic carryout bag for the purpose of carrying a buyer’s purchased goods from the seller’s premises.
Kodiak	2018	Municipal Code 7.32.050: Disposable plastic shopping bag that is not suitable for repeated reuse, if made of or containing plastic that is less than 4 mils thick.
McGrath	Unknown	Details unknown. City administrator confirmed a city resolution is in place banning plastic bags.
Mountain Village	Unknown	Details unknown. City manager confirmed a plastic bag ban is in place.
Palmer	2019	Municipal Code 18.09.030: Single-use plastic bags that is neither intended nor suitable for continuous reuse and that is less than 4 mils thick.
Saint Paul	2002	Resolution 2002-14 bans plastic bags.
Seward	2019	Municipal Code 9.35.015: Affected retail establishments, food vendors and nonprofit vendors are prohibited from providing plastic carry-out bags to their customers at the point of sale to transport purchased items. No person shall distribute plastic carry-out bags at any city facility or any event held on city property. It bans polystyrene (Styrofoam) from food service as well.
Soldotna	2018	Municipal Code 8.06.030: Single-use plastic bags that is neither intended nor suitable for continuous reuse and that is less than 2.25 mils thick.
Unalaska	2018	Municipal Code 11.16.040: Disposable plastic shopping bag that is not suitable for repeated reuse if made of or containing plastic that is less than 4 mils thick.
Wasilla	2018	Municipal Code 9.44: Prohibits all establishments in city limits from providing single-use plastic disposable shopping bags for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale. Allows establishments to provide carryout bags made of plastic 2.25 mil or thicker, with or without charge at their discretion.