Ohio Bag Ban, Fee & EPR Rules

Bag Ban Status

No statewide ban and no permanent preemption of local bag bans. HB 242 (2020) imposed only a temporary moratorium on local auxiliary-container regulation, which has expired; the permanent bar is limited to local taxes/fees on auxiliary containers (Ohio Rev. Code § 715.013(B); § 3767.32 defines auxiliary containers). Local bans are lawful — Cuyahoga County's bag ban has been enforced since 2022.

Plastic Bag Restrictions

No statewide restriction; local bans permitted (only local taxes/fees on containers are preempted under R.C. § 715.013(B)).

Paper Bag Requirements

No statewide paper bag requirement.

Recycled Content (PCR)

No statewide recycled-content mandate for carryout bags.

Fees & Taxation

None statewide. R.C. § 715.013(B) bars local governments from imposing taxes or charges on auxiliary containers.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

No EPR for packaging.

Local Ordinances

Cuyahoga County single-use plastic bag ban — in effect and enforced since January 2022.

Key Dates

HB 242 moratorium (2020-2022) expired; Cuyahoga County ban enforcement began Jan 2022.

Official Sources

• Ohio General Assembly — 2020 temporary auxiliary-container moratorium (legislation summary; JS-rendered page)
• Ohio Rev. Code § 715.013 — Limits on local authority over auxiliary containers (taxes/fees) (codes.ohio.gov)
• Ohio Rev. Code § 3767.32 — Auxiliary container definition/littering (codes.ohio.gov)