As of October 1, 2020, businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador will not be permitted to provide or sell plastic retail bags to customers. A plastic retail bag is a bag “made of plastic, including biodegradable or compostable plastic, but does not include a reusable bag”.
The change is being put in place to reduce waste, and to address the environmental damage caused by single-use plastic check-out bags. The regulation applies to all retailers who sell, or offer to sell, goods to the public.
The ban does not apply to a bag used to:
- package fruit, vegetables, candy, grains, nuts and other loose bulk food items;
- package meat, poultry or fish, whether pre-packaged or not;
- wrap flowers or potted plants;
- protect prepared foods or bakery goods that are not pre-packaged;
- transport live fish;
- protect newspapers or printed material left at a person's residence or place of business;
- protect clothes after professional laundering or dry cleaning; or
- protect used tires taken off vehicles and placed in a person's vehicle.
The sale of bags, including plastic bags, intended for use in a person’s home or business, which are sold in packages of multiple bags, is still permitted.
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