Jackson adopts plastic bag ordinance
With a unanimous, four to nothing vote, and no public opposition, the Jackson Town Council has passed an ordinance banning the use of single-use, disposable plastic bags on third reading Monday.
Mayor Pete Muldoon said while he recognized the ordinance might cause some short term pain, it would demonstrate the town’s environmental and conservation leadership.
According to one estimate, the town’s four grocery stores use 4.5 billion plastic bags per year.
Beginning April 15, grocers and large retailers will collect a waste reduction fee of 20 cents for each disposable paper bag or reusable plastic bag provided to the customer at the point of sale. Beginning in November, retailers will collect a 20 cent fee for each disposable paper bag or reusable plastic bag provided to customers.
Retailers will be asked to record the number of bags they provide and the amount of fees they collect. They are not allowed to refund that fee to customers.
Each retailer will retain half of the fee and the other half will be remitted to the Town of Jackson on a quarterly basis.
The Town will remit its share of the fees to the Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling Division to manage a reusable bag distribution and retail support program, help pay for community litter cleanup, and help fund the Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling Zero Waste Infrastructure and Program.
