Signed by Governor Phil Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations for single-use plastic items.

Highlights:

• Defines “Expanded polystyrene” as blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams that are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by a number of techniques, including (Sec. 1-3):

• Fusion of polymer spheres, known as expandable bead 20 polystyrene; 

• Injection molding; 

• Foam molding; and 

• Extrusion-blow molding, also known as extruded foam polystyrene.

• Defines “Plastic” as a synthetic material made from linking monomers through a chemical reaction to create a polymer chain that can be molded or extruded at high heat into various solid forms that retain their defined shapes during their life cycle and after disposal, including material derived from either petroleum or a biologically based polymer, such as corn or other plant sources (Sec. 1-6).

• Prohibits a store or food service establishment from providing a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer (Sec. 1-15).

• Prohibits a food service establishment from providing a single-use plastic straw to a customer, except that a food service establishment may provide a straw to a person upon request (Sec. 1-15.a).

• Establishes the following civil penalties for violations (Subsec. § 6697):

• Receive a written warning for a first offense;

• Be subject to a civil penalty of $25.00 for a second offense; and

• Be subject to a civil penalty of $100.00 for a third or subsequent offense.

• Exempts the following establishments from penalties (Sec. 1-15.b):

• A hospital licensed under 18 V.S.A. chapter 43;

• A nursing home, residential care home, assisted living residence, home for the terminally ill, or therapeutic community, as those terms are defined in 33 V.S.A. chapter 71; or

• An independent living facility as that term is defined in 32 V.S.A. chapter 225.

• Establishes a Single-Use Products Working Group to (Sec. 3):

• evaluate current State and municipal policy and requirements for the management of single-use products; and

• recommend to the Vermont General Assembly policy or requirements that the State should enact

Full Bill Text