Kauai Bans Plastic Shopping Bags

The island of Kauai in Hawaii banned the use of plastic grocery bags. The hard fought win came at the culmination of a two-year campaign by the Kauai Chapter based on the Rise Above Plastics campaign toolkit. The ordinance will ban distribution from all non-biodegradable plastic bags from retail stores on the island. The bill goes into effect on Jan. 11, 2011, the same day that Maui County's plastic checkout bag ban goes into effect. Retailers that violate this law will face charges of $250-$1,000 per day (depending on the number of offenses cited). The county will distribute 25,000 free reusable bags to assist the local community make the transition away from single-use bags.