Connecticut Bag Ban, Fee & EPR Rules

Bag Ban Status

Statewide bag ban: active statewide ban on single-use plastic checkout bags (plastic bags less than 4 mils thick, CGS 22a-246a). Reusable plastic bags of at least 4 mils and paper bags remain permitted. All retailers regardless of size. Apparel/general retail covered.

Plastic Bag Restrictions

Plastic carryout bags: single-use plastic checkout bags (thickness under 4 mils) banned statewide; reusable plastic bags of at least 4 mils permitted (CGS 22a-246a).

Paper Bag Requirements

No statewide paper bag requirement.

Recycled Content (PCR)

No statewide recycled-content mandate for carryout bags.

Fees & Taxation

None statewide.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

No EPR for packaging.

Local Ordinances

Hartford, Stamford, Norwalk, others — Some towns have stricter local rules.

Key Dates

Statewide $0.10 plastic bag fee (PA 19-117) in effect 2019-08-01 through 2021-06-30. Single-use plastic bag ban effective 2021-07-01 (CGS 22a-246a); the state fee ended when the ban took effect.

Official Sources

• CT DRS Legislative Summary — Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee and Ban
• CT DRS TSSB 2021-5 — Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee Sunset and Statewide Ban (official PDF)