Single Use Bag Initiative
Village Code requires Oak Park retail stores of 5,000 square feet or greater to charge customers 10 cents for each single-use paper or plastic bag provided at the checkout counter. The program is intended to encourage customers to bring their own shopping bags to avoid taking a single-use, disposable bag that may end up as litter. The local ordinance went into effect in 2018.
How the program works
- Customers are charged 10 cents for each paper or plastic bag provided at the checkout counter to carry purchases, with some exceptions.
- The bag charge is recorded separately on customer receipts.
- Half of the fee (5 cents per bag) will be retained by retailers. The other half of the fee (5 cents) will be submitted to the Village.
- The single-use bag fees submitted to the Village of Oak Park will be used to fund positive sustainability initiatives as reviewed and approved by the Village Board.
Exceptions
The single-use bag law does not apply to the following types of bags...
- Used to hold prescription drugs;
- Sold for initial use for yard waste, pet waste, garbage, dry cleaning or newspapers;
- Provided by a seasonal stand or street fair stall, such as a farmers’ market;
- Used to package a bulk item or to contain or wrap a perishable grocery item; and
- Provided by restaurants for prepared carry out or leftover food or drink
Free reusable bags available
Reusable bags are available free of charge in the lobby at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
The Village also is working with local not-for-profit organizations to provide reusable bags to individuals who may not be able to afford to buy them. Contact sustainability@oak-park.us for more information.
Why the program is necessary
- Single-use shopping bags – both paper and plastic – consume enormous amounts of natural resources in their manufacture, create damaging, unsightly pollution when improperly disposed of and add to the administrative costs of a retail business.
- Many Oak Park residents have expressed enthusiastic support for the bag-fee initiative.
- It is the right thing to do for the environment to encourage source reduction and minimize the negative direct impacts of pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and litter.