Emily Dagg, assistant director of the Everett Public Library, shows reusable bags the city of Everett is giving out at the downtown library and Evergreen Branch while supplies last. (Julie Muhlstein / The Herald)

Emily Dagg, assistant director of the Everett Public Library, shows reusable bags the city of Everett is giving out at the downtown library and Evergreen Branch while supplies last. (Julie Muhlstein / The Herald)

Shoppers, it’s once again time to break the plastic bag habit

Everett is providing free reusable sacks. The state’s single-use plastic bag ban will kick in Oct. 1.

Some of us developed good habits during the pandemic. We took longer walks or learned new technology skills. One positive routine, remembering our reusable shopping bags, fell by the wayside.

They’re not a brand new bag, but those handy fiber sacks haven’t had much use in more than a year.

During all these months that the state’s plastic bag ban has been on hold, I stopped keeping my stash of reusable bags in the car. Due to COVID-19, many retailers stopped accepting them. Well, it’s time to get back in the habit — and be ready for the state’s ban, which will take effect Oct. 1.

Washington’s new law banning single-use plastic carryout bags was to have kicked in Jan. 1, 2021. But Gov. Jay Inslee paused it with Emergency Proclamation 20-82, issued Dec. 18. At the time, the governor said retailers had COVID-related supply issues keeping them from getting enough reusable plastic bags to meet demand. “Those challenges have since passed,” Inslee announced Tuesday.

The emergency proclamation will expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30, Inslee said. So on Oct. 1, stores statewide will no longer hand out single-use plastic bags. Customers may bring their own bags, or stores can provide paper sacks or reusable thicker plastic bags — for 8 cents per bag, a fee kept by retailers and subject to sales tax.

Months before the pandemic hit, the city of Everett’s reusable bag ordinance went into effect on Sept. 30, 2019. Approved by the Everett City Council Dec. 5, 2018, it’s intended to reduce waste and protect the environment. Like the state law will do, it prohibits retailers from distributing single-use plastic bags, with exceptions to protect public health and safety.

Julio Cortes, a senior communications officer with the city, said Everett’s ban “is technically in effect,” but it hasn’t been enforced during the pandemic. “We are currently reviewing the City’s ban to see how it aligns with the state’s bag ban,” Cortes said by email July 7.

To encourage use of reusable bags, the city of Everett is providing them for free while supplies last. They’re available at the Everett Public Library downtown and at the Evergreen Branch. (Julie Muhlstein / The Herald)

To encourage use of reusable bags, the city of Everett is providing them for free while supplies last. They’re available at the Everett Public Library downtown and at the Evergreen Branch. (Julie Muhlstein / The Herald)

Edmonds was Washington’s first city to ban single-use, checkout-line plastic bags. Passed by the Edmonds City Council in 2009, the rule took effect in 2010. Rep. Strom Peterson, an Edmonds Democrat, was a sponsor of the state ban, along with Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent.

Voices in the environmental community cheered Inslee’s move to get the plastic bag ban back on track.

“Bringing your own bag helps reduce plastic waste and stem the flow of plastic going into our waterways and ocean,” said Nora Nickum, ocean policy manager at the Seattle Aquarium, in a statement Wednesday. “This law reminds us all to take that easy step.”

“Plastic bags are among the most common items we find on beach cleanups,” added Gus Gates, Washington policy manager with the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ocean protection.

Heather Trim, executive director of Zero Waste Washington, said single-use bags not only cause plastic pollution, they cause problems at recycling facilities.

Just in time to restart a good habit, the city of Everett has relaunched its “Bring Your Bag” effort. Like during a 2019 outreach campaign in anticipation of the bag ordinance, the city is again offering free reusable bags. While supplies last, the blue sacks with “Bring Your Bag” and the Everett logo on them are available at the Everett Public Library downtown and at the Evergreen Branch.

“You can bring your own bags while shopping in most retail establishments to reduce single-use plastics, though some retailers may still ask you to use self-checkout or bag your own purchases,” said a July 2 City of Everett newsletter.

At a QFC store in Everett Tuesday, a checker had no complaints about taking my reusable bag and filling it herself. And the store was not yet charging for paper sacks. But at a Target store in Spokane a week ago, I was charged 8 cents for a heavy reusable plastic bag, although the state’s bag ban wasn’t yet in effect.

The state’s ban won’t include bags used in stores to package bulk items such as fruits and vegetables, or small hardware items. Nor does it include bags for frozen foods, meat, fish, flowers or bakery goods. Also not included are newspaper bags, or bags sold in packages for food storage, garbage or pet waste.

Cortes said that along with Everett’s libraries, free reusable bags will be distributed to multifamily properties that request them “to promote waste reduction in their buildings.” In all, about 6,000 bags will be available to the public, he said.

At the downtown Everett library early last week, the free bags were available at the circulation desk and in the children’s section. Abby Cooley, the library director, said that before the pandemic, “I had just gotten into the habit of taking them to the grocery store.” Same here.

It’s time to renew that habit.

Julie Muhlstein: jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

x
Edmonds appoints liaison to South County Fire Board of Commissioners

Will Morris, president of the Edmonds Police Officers Association, will serve as a non-voting liaison with the regional fire authority.

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

x
Driver in Edmonds ferry pursuit faces murder, vehicular homicide charges

Documents show the 29-year-old driver may have stolen the car three days before the pursuit, which left two passengers dead.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.