Waltham’s Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban: What You Need To Know

WALTHAM, MA — The City of Waltham’s single-use plastic bag ban will take effect on Saturday, June 25. Here’s what you need to know before it goes into effect.

The ordinance, Chapter 8, Article XV, “Reduction of Plastic Bags,” was approved in December and prohibits Waltham retailers from providing since-use plastic checkout bags to any customer for the purpose of enabling them to carry goods from the point of sale.

This means that retailers who do provide checkout bags to customers must begin using recyclable paper bags or reusable bags.

Businesses should use their existing stock of single-use plastic bags by June 24. Any stock remaining on June 25 must be properly disposed of.

This ordinance may be enforced by Waltham Board of Health agents. The penalty structure for non-compliance includes written warnings and fines ranging from $50 to $100 for subsequent offenses.

"Thank you for partnering with the City of Waltham in its efforts to reduce environmental impacts from disposable plastic bags,” said Senior Public Health Inspector Ivan A. Colon in a statement.

Anyone with questions can contact the Waltham Health Department at 781-314-3305.