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Suspected Overdose Deaths for May in Delaware Set New Monthly High Total Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Student State Board of Education Member Application Due June 24 Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Delaware Natural Resources Police Youth Fishing Tournament Winners Announced Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Summer of Opportunity Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Funding Available for Tree-Planting Projects Date Posted: June 7, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: William Hare Master Potter Date Posted: June 6, 2022
DNREC to Present Living Shoreline Social Marketing Webinar June 16 Date Posted: June 6, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Judicial Nominations Date Posted: June 3, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases The First of Nineteen Reports on Delaware’s Public School Staffing Levels Date Posted: June 3, 2022
DNREC to Propose Major Source Air Pollution Permit Renewal for Delaware City Refining Company Date Posted: June 3, 2022
Governor Carney, Members of the General Assembly Announce Gun Safety Package Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission Celebrates National Caribbean-American Heritage Month Date Posted: June 2, 2022
New Website Helps Families Find Summer Opportunities for Their Children Date Posted: June 2, 2022
FREE New Castle History Camp, July 25–29, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Prohibición ampliada de las bolsas de plástico para llevar en vigor el 1.° de julio de 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Enhanced Plastic Carryout Bag Ban in Effect July 1, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Stay Cool, Hydrated, And Informed to Prevent Heat-Related Illness Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Division Of Public Health Launches New Delaware WIC Educational Website Date Posted: June 1, 2022
El Programa P-EBT de Delaware se Expandió a Niños Menores de 6 Años en Hogares Que Reciben SNAP Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Delaware’s P-EBT Program Expanded to Children Under Age 6 in Households Receiving SNAP Date Posted: June 1, 2022
DNREC, Division of Public Health Offer Tips About Ticks Date Posted: June 1, 2022
The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Explorations through Materiality” by Samara Weaver Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Program to Help Foster Youth Pursue Higher Education Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Governor Carney, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney Announce Compassionate Champion Awardees Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Pierre S. du Pont IV: Governor of Delaware 1977-1985 Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Delaware State Parks Expected to Set Visitation Record Date Posted: May 27, 2022
Division of the Arts Announces the 2022 “Award Winners” Exhibition Dates Date Posted: May 27, 2022
Delaware Child Care Professional Bonus Registry Now Open Date Posted: May 27, 2022
New DMV Support Pollinator Plate Creating a Buzz Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Milford School Psychologist Delaware 2022 Behavioral Health Professional Of Year Date Posted: May 26, 2022
DNREC Announces Beach Access Closures Due to Storm Damage Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Memorial Day Ceremonial Events Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: May 26, 2022
In Another Likely Consequence of Pandemic, Delaware Overdose Deaths Increase 15% in 2021 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Governor Carney Terminates Limited State of Emergency in Kent County Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Delaware Emitirá Beneficios de Emergencia Mensuales el 26 de Mayo Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Delaware Will Issue Monthly Emergency Benefits On May 26 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Governor’s Summer Fellowship Program Date Posted: May 25, 2022
New Tram Path, Other Improvements to Greet Fort Delaware State Park Visitors This Season Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Historical Affairs Programs In June 2022 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
May 29th is 529 Day Date Posted: May 25, 2022
‘Take A Kid Fishing!’ Events Announced Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Flag Lowering for the Victims at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Governor Carney Activates Emergency Management Assistance Compact to Support Emergency Response to Barge Fire Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Governor Carney Vetoes House Bill 371 Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Crews Work to Contain Fire on Barge in Delaware Bay Date Posted: May 23, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: East of the Mason-Dixon Line by Roger E. Nathan Date Posted: May 23, 2022
DPH Encourages Delawareans To Consider Masking In Public Amid Rising Covid-19 Cases Date Posted: May 21, 2022
2021 U.S. Road Fatalities Projected Highest in 16 Years, Delaware at 15-year High Date Posted: May 20, 2022
DHSS to Partner with Habitat for Humanity on Pilot Program for Minor Home Repairs for Older Delawareans Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Click It or Ticket Campaign Reminds Drivers: Buckle Up Every Trip, Every Time Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Public Encouraged to Avoid ‘Rescuing’ Young Wildlife Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Nonprofit Security Grant Applications Due June 1, 2022 Date Posted: May 17, 2022
Delaware’s Plastic Carryout Bag Ban July 1, 2022 Date Posted: May 17, 2022
DPH Offers Guidance And Resources On How To Navigate The Infant Formula Supply Shortage Date Posted: May 17, 2022
DNREC Names Two to Leadership Roles Date Posted: May 17, 2022
Governor Carney Honors Four Century Farm Families, 2022 Marks 35th Year of Delaware Century Farm Program Date Posted: May 16, 2022
Governor Carney Tests Positive for COVID-19 Date Posted: May 16, 2022
Holodick Names Top High School Seniors 2022 Secretary Scholars Date Posted: May 16, 2022
With Delaware Bay Beach Nourishment Projects Complete, DNREC Now Works Toward Restoring Atlantic Coastline Date Posted: May 16, 2022
DE Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Captain Thomas Macdonough Date Posted: May 16, 2022
School Behavioral Health Professionals Honored Date Posted: May 16, 2022
‘The Wooden World Revealed’ at Lewes’ Zwaanendael Museum Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Concord Pond to Be Treated for Invasive Aquatic Weed Hydrilla Date Posted: May 13, 2022
DNREC To Update Vehicle Emission Testing Requirements Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Dr. Karyl Rattay Announces Departure From Delaware Division Of Public Health Effective June 30, 2022 Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Governor Carney Orders Lowering of Flags Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Delaware Extends Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Date Posted: May 12, 2022
High Path Avian Influenza Confirmed In Black Vultures, Poultry Producers Encouraged To Take Precautions Date Posted: May 11, 2022
Governor Carney Signs Paid Family Leave Legislation Date Posted: May 11, 2022
Tonieboxes Now Available for Children at Delaware Libraries Date Posted: May 11, 2022
McGuiness’s National COVID-19 Data Quality Audit Template Shapes Public Emergency Response Efforts Countrywide Date Posted: May 10, 2022
DNREC, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays To Host Water Family Fest Saturday, May 14 Date Posted: May 10, 2022
ICYMI: Dolly Parton in Delaware for the Imagination Library Statewide Celebration Date Posted: May 9, 2022
DPH Diabetes & Heart Disease Prevention & Control Program Sponsors 20th Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo Date Posted: May 9, 2022
Heritage Commission’s Book of the Week: Allen McLane – Patriot, Solider, Spy, Port Collector Date Posted: May 9, 2022
US Wind and Ørsted Conducting Offshore Wind Research Date Posted: May 9, 2022
Gov. Carney Celebrates 150th Arbor Day in Rehoboth Beach Date Posted: May 6, 2022
Division of Small Business Launches Innovative New Website Service Designed to Support Delaware’s Small Businesses Date Posted: May 6, 2022
DNREC, DEMA Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week Date Posted: May 6, 2022
Delaware Changes Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Regulations Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DHSS Releases Second Annual Health Care Benchmark Trend Report Date Posted: May 5, 2022
Drivers Needed for DART’s Upcoming Beach Bus Season Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DHSS Launches State Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DTI Announces New Chief Of Administration And Broadband Manager Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DNREC’s Monitoring Shows Overall Good Air Quality in Delaware Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Columbus Organization Will Continue to Connect Individuals to Services, Supports Date Posted: May 4, 2022
May Is Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month; May 19 Hepatitis Testing Day Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Governor Carney Proclaims May 2022 as Trauma Awareness Month Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Attorney General Jennings Announces $141 Million TurboTax Settlement Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Natural World On Display At Buena Vista On May 14, 2022 Date Posted: May 4, 2022
DNREC’s A-Street Ditch PCB Cleanup Pilot: Two Years in, Results Show Continued Gains Against Pollutants Date Posted: May 3, 2022
Dept of Labor Teams Up with Community Partners to Offer Job Seekers Career Support Date Posted: May 3, 2022
DCRPT Secures Prison Sentence in Sussex County Hate Crime Date Posted: May 3, 2022
DNREC Urges Clean Alternatives to Burning Yard Waste Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Public Service Recognition Week, May 1-7 Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week – Democracy in Delaware: The Story of the First State’s General Assembly Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long to Hold COVID-19 Remembrance Memorial Ceremony in Dover Date Posted: April 29, 2022
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness Releases Report Announcing Delaware Erases Rape Kit Backlog Date Posted: April 28, 2022
Charter School of Wilmington Wins Championship in 2022 Delaware Envirothon Date Posted: April 28, 2022
Suspected Overdose Deaths for May in Delaware Set New Monthly High Total Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Student State Board of Education Member Application Due June 24 Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Delaware Natural Resources Police Youth Fishing Tournament Winners Announced Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Summer of Opportunity Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Funding Available for Tree-Planting Projects Date Posted: June 7, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: William Hare Master Potter Date Posted: June 6, 2022
DNREC to Present Living Shoreline Social Marketing Webinar June 16 Date Posted: June 6, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Judicial Nominations Date Posted: June 3, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases The First of Nineteen Reports on Delaware’s Public School Staffing Levels Date Posted: June 3, 2022
DNREC to Propose Major Source Air Pollution Permit Renewal for Delaware City Refining Company Date Posted: June 3, 2022
Governor Carney, Members of the General Assembly Announce Gun Safety Package Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission Celebrates National Caribbean-American Heritage Month Date Posted: June 2, 2022
New Website Helps Families Find Summer Opportunities for Their Children Date Posted: June 2, 2022
FREE New Castle History Camp, July 25–29, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Prohibición ampliada de las bolsas de plástico para llevar en vigor el 1.° de julio de 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Enhanced Plastic Carryout Bag Ban in Effect July 1, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Stay Cool, Hydrated, And Informed to Prevent Heat-Related Illness Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Division Of Public Health Launches New Delaware WIC Educational Website Date Posted: June 1, 2022
El Programa P-EBT de Delaware se Expandió a Niños Menores de 6 Años en Hogares Que Reciben SNAP Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Delaware’s P-EBT Program Expanded to Children Under Age 6 in Households Receiving SNAP Date Posted: June 1, 2022
DNREC, Division of Public Health Offer Tips About Ticks Date Posted: June 1, 2022
The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Explorations through Materiality” by Samara Weaver Date Posted: June 1, 2022
Program to Help Foster Youth Pursue Higher Education Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Governor Carney, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney Announce Compassionate Champion Awardees Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Pierre S. du Pont IV: Governor of Delaware 1977-1985 Date Posted: May 31, 2022
Delaware State Parks Expected to Set Visitation Record Date Posted: May 27, 2022
Division of the Arts Announces the 2022 “Award Winners” Exhibition Dates Date Posted: May 27, 2022
Delaware Child Care Professional Bonus Registry Now Open Date Posted: May 27, 2022
New DMV Support Pollinator Plate Creating a Buzz Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Milford School Psychologist Delaware 2022 Behavioral Health Professional Of Year Date Posted: May 26, 2022
DNREC Announces Beach Access Closures Due to Storm Damage Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Memorial Day Ceremonial Events Date Posted: May 26, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: May 26, 2022
In Another Likely Consequence of Pandemic, Delaware Overdose Deaths Increase 15% in 2021 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Governor Carney Terminates Limited State of Emergency in Kent County Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Delaware Emitirá Beneficios de Emergencia Mensuales el 26 de Mayo Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Delaware Will Issue Monthly Emergency Benefits On May 26 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Governor’s Summer Fellowship Program Date Posted: May 25, 2022
New Tram Path, Other Improvements to Greet Fort Delaware State Park Visitors This Season Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Historical Affairs Programs In June 2022 Date Posted: May 25, 2022
May 29th is 529 Day Date Posted: May 25, 2022
‘Take A Kid Fishing!’ Events Announced Date Posted: May 25, 2022
Flag Lowering for the Victims at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Governor Carney Activates Emergency Management Assistance Compact to Support Emergency Response to Barge Fire Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Governor Carney Vetoes House Bill 371 Date Posted: May 24, 2022
Crews Work to Contain Fire on Barge in Delaware Bay Date Posted: May 23, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: East of the Mason-Dixon Line by Roger E. Nathan Date Posted: May 23, 2022
DPH Encourages Delawareans To Consider Masking In Public Amid Rising Covid-19 Cases Date Posted: May 21, 2022
2021 U.S. Road Fatalities Projected Highest in 16 Years, Delaware at 15-year High Date Posted: May 20, 2022
DHSS to Partner with Habitat for Humanity on Pilot Program for Minor Home Repairs for Older Delawareans Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Click It or Ticket Campaign Reminds Drivers: Buckle Up Every Trip, Every Time Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Public Encouraged to Avoid ‘Rescuing’ Young Wildlife Date Posted: May 19, 2022
Nonprofit Security Grant Applications Due June 1, 2022 Date Posted: May 17, 2022
Delaware’s Plastic Carryout Bag Ban July 1, 2022 Date Posted: May 17, 2022
DPH Offers Guidance And Resources On How To Navigate The Infant Formula Supply Shortage Date Posted: May 17, 2022
DNREC Names Two to Leadership Roles Date Posted: May 17, 2022
Governor Carney Honors Four Century Farm Families, 2022 Marks 35th Year of Delaware Century Farm Program Date Posted: May 16, 2022
Governor Carney Tests Positive for COVID-19 Date Posted: May 16, 2022
Holodick Names Top High School Seniors 2022 Secretary Scholars Date Posted: May 16, 2022
With Delaware Bay Beach Nourishment Projects Complete, DNREC Now Works Toward Restoring Atlantic Coastline Date Posted: May 16, 2022
DE Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Captain Thomas Macdonough Date Posted: May 16, 2022
School Behavioral Health Professionals Honored Date Posted: May 16, 2022
‘The Wooden World Revealed’ at Lewes’ Zwaanendael Museum Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Concord Pond to Be Treated for Invasive Aquatic Weed Hydrilla Date Posted: May 13, 2022
DNREC To Update Vehicle Emission Testing Requirements Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Dr. Karyl Rattay Announces Departure From Delaware Division Of Public Health Effective June 30, 2022 Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Governor Carney Orders Lowering of Flags Date Posted: May 13, 2022
Delaware Extends Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Date Posted: May 12, 2022
High Path Avian Influenza Confirmed In Black Vultures, Poultry Producers Encouraged To Take Precautions Date Posted: May 11, 2022
Governor Carney Signs Paid Family Leave Legislation Date Posted: May 11, 2022
Tonieboxes Now Available for Children at Delaware Libraries Date Posted: May 11, 2022
McGuiness’s National COVID-19 Data Quality Audit Template Shapes Public Emergency Response Efforts Countrywide Date Posted: May 10, 2022
DNREC, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays To Host Water Family Fest Saturday, May 14 Date Posted: May 10, 2022
ICYMI: Dolly Parton in Delaware for the Imagination Library Statewide Celebration Date Posted: May 9, 2022
DPH Diabetes & Heart Disease Prevention & Control Program Sponsors 20th Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo Date Posted: May 9, 2022
Heritage Commission’s Book of the Week: Allen McLane – Patriot, Solider, Spy, Port Collector Date Posted: May 9, 2022
US Wind and Ørsted Conducting Offshore Wind Research Date Posted: May 9, 2022
Gov. Carney Celebrates 150th Arbor Day in Rehoboth Beach Date Posted: May 6, 2022
Division of Small Business Launches Innovative New Website Service Designed to Support Delaware’s Small Businesses Date Posted: May 6, 2022
DNREC, DEMA Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week Date Posted: May 6, 2022
Delaware Changes Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Regulations Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DHSS Releases Second Annual Health Care Benchmark Trend Report Date Posted: May 5, 2022
Drivers Needed for DART’s Upcoming Beach Bus Season Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DHSS Launches State Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DTI Announces New Chief Of Administration And Broadband Manager Date Posted: May 5, 2022
DNREC’s Monitoring Shows Overall Good Air Quality in Delaware Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Columbus Organization Will Continue to Connect Individuals to Services, Supports Date Posted: May 4, 2022
May Is Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month; May 19 Hepatitis Testing Day Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Governor Carney Proclaims May 2022 as Trauma Awareness Month Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Attorney General Jennings Announces $141 Million TurboTax Settlement Date Posted: May 4, 2022
Natural World On Display At Buena Vista On May 14, 2022 Date Posted: May 4, 2022
DNREC’s A-Street Ditch PCB Cleanup Pilot: Two Years in, Results Show Continued Gains Against Pollutants Date Posted: May 3, 2022
Dept of Labor Teams Up with Community Partners to Offer Job Seekers Career Support Date Posted: May 3, 2022
DCRPT Secures Prison Sentence in Sussex County Hate Crime Date Posted: May 3, 2022
DNREC Urges Clean Alternatives to Burning Yard Waste Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Public Service Recognition Week, May 1-7 Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week – Democracy in Delaware: The Story of the First State’s General Assembly Date Posted: May 2, 2022
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long to Hold COVID-19 Remembrance Memorial Ceremony in Dover Date Posted: April 29, 2022
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness Releases Report Announcing Delaware Erases Rape Kit Backlog Date Posted: April 28, 2022
Charter School of Wilmington Wins Championship in 2022 Delaware Envirothon Date Posted: April 28, 2022
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Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances | Featured Posts | News | Office of the Secretary | Date Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2022
DNREC reminds shoppers the enhanced plastic carryout bag ban will be in effect July 1. DNREC photo.
Film Bags No Longer to Be Distributed by Retail Vendors in Delaware
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds retail shoppers in the state their options are soon to change for packaging groceries and consumer goods. Starting July 1, retail stores in Delaware – all retail stores except restaurants – will no longer provide plastic bags at checkout. An updated plastic bag ban, passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2021, expands the 2019 plastic bag ban to include all retail stores (with restaurants again the exception) regardless of size, and bans the distribution or sale of all plastic film carryout bags at checkout.
Under Delaware’s 2019 plastic bag ban, the law allowed 2.25 millimeter-thick plastic film bags to be considered reusable. Last June, the legislature enhanced the state’s plastic bag ban to include all plastic film carryout bags regardless of thickness. Starting July 1, retailers can choose to offer paper bags, or reusable bags made from cloth or other durable fabric with stitched handles. The law also allows retail stores to charge customers for these bags at checkout.
DNREC encourages the use of the cloth or fabric bags brought by customers to businesses where they shop, while advising that these reusable bags should be washed or cleaned after each use by turning them inside out and wiping them down with a cleaning agent or disinfectant.
The goal of the enhanced bag ban is to reduce roadside, waterway and seaside litter; to save valuable landfill space; to increase recycling efforts; and to help recycling facilities avoid delays when plastic bags get stuck in their machinery.
”Prior to the enactment of this law in 2019, it was estimated that each Delawarean used approximately 434 plastic bags each year, many of which wound up as waste in our landfills,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By realigning the legislation to further limit the use of film carryout bags, we are reducing waste that all too often ends up along on our roadway, in our waterways and along our shorelines – all detrimental to our environment including harmful effects on our wildlife and marine creatures.”
All retail stores that continue to provide exempt bags are required to maintain an At-Store Recycling program for plastic and film bags, including cereal box liners, newspaper sleeves, and single-use produce or meat and fresh seafood bags. The drop-off locations should be visible and accessible within the store. Bags that are no longer reusable or unwanted should be recycled at these locations. DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances also reminds Delawareans that plastic bags should never be placed in the bins that are part of the state’s curbside recycling program, but should instead be returned to the stores the bags came from for recycling.
Consumers and retailers can find more information about the enhanced plastic bag ban at de.gov/bags.
About DNREC The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov
Related Topics: bag ban, Delaware Recycles, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Plastic carry-out bag ban, reduce reuse recycle
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances | Featured Posts | News | Office of the Secretary | Date Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2022
DNREC reminds shoppers the enhanced plastic carryout bag ban will be in effect July 1. DNREC photo.
Film Bags No Longer to Be Distributed by Retail Vendors in Delaware
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds retail shoppers in the state their options are soon to change for packaging groceries and consumer goods. Starting July 1, retail stores in Delaware – all retail stores except restaurants – will no longer provide plastic bags at checkout. An updated plastic bag ban, passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2021, expands the 2019 plastic bag ban to include all retail stores (with restaurants again the exception) regardless of size, and bans the distribution or sale of all plastic film carryout bags at checkout.
Under Delaware’s 2019 plastic bag ban, the law allowed 2.25 millimeter-thick plastic film bags to be considered reusable. Last June, the legislature enhanced the state’s plastic bag ban to include all plastic film carryout bags regardless of thickness. Starting July 1, retailers can choose to offer paper bags, or reusable bags made from cloth or other durable fabric with stitched handles. The law also allows retail stores to charge customers for these bags at checkout.
DNREC encourages the use of the cloth or fabric bags brought by customers to businesses where they shop, while advising that these reusable bags should be washed or cleaned after each use by turning them inside out and wiping them down with a cleaning agent or disinfectant.
The goal of the enhanced bag ban is to reduce roadside, waterway and seaside litter; to save valuable landfill space; to increase recycling efforts; and to help recycling facilities avoid delays when plastic bags get stuck in their machinery.
”Prior to the enactment of this law in 2019, it was estimated that each Delawarean used approximately 434 plastic bags each year, many of which wound up as waste in our landfills,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By realigning the legislation to further limit the use of film carryout bags, we are reducing waste that all too often ends up along on our roadway, in our waterways and along our shorelines – all detrimental to our environment including harmful effects on our wildlife and marine creatures.”
All retail stores that continue to provide exempt bags are required to maintain an At-Store Recycling program for plastic and film bags, including cereal box liners, newspaper sleeves, and single-use produce or meat and fresh seafood bags. The drop-off locations should be visible and accessible within the store. Bags that are no longer reusable or unwanted should be recycled at these locations. DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances also reminds Delawareans that plastic bags should never be placed in the bins that are part of the state’s curbside recycling program, but should instead be returned to the stores the bags came from for recycling.
Consumers and retailers can find more information about the enhanced plastic bag ban at de.gov/bags.
About DNREC The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov
Related Topics: bag ban, Delaware Recycles, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Plastic carry-out bag ban, reduce reuse recycle
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
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