Vermont Plastic Ban & Single-Use Plastic Laws: Complete Guide

The Vermont plastic ban limits plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and foam food containers at stores and restaurants. It has been in force since July 1, 2020. This guide explains what the law covers, what’s exempt, and how your business can stay compliant.

Did Vermont Ban Single-Use Plastics?

Yes. Vermont’s Single-Use Products Law, known as Act 69, is the state’s single-use plastic ban. It started as Senate bill S.113, and Gov. Phil Scott signed it on June 17, 2019.

The law took effect on July 1, 2020. It applies to stores and food service establishments, such as restaurants. If you run a shop, grocery, cafe, or takeout kitchen in Vermont, it likely applies to you.

For shoppers, the law mainly changes what you receive at checkout.

Act 69 targets four types of single-use items:

• Plastic carryout bags.

• Plastic straws.

• Plastic stirrers.

• Expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers.

Each item has its own rule. Three are banned outright at the point of service, and straws are allowed by request only. You can trace the law’s history on the Vermont S.113 bill page and in the Act 69 legislative summary.

What Does Vermont’s Single-Use Products Law Cover?

Vermont’s Single-Use Products Law sets four rules for stores and food service establishments, summarized in the table below.

Item	Rule	Allowed alternatives
Plastic carryout bags	Banned at checkout, including bags labeled “compostable”	Paper bags (at least $0.10 each) and reusable bags
Plastic straws	By request only, including “compostable” plastic straws	Paper or metal straws, offered freely
Plastic stirrers	Banned	Wood or metal stirrers
Expanded polystyrene foodware	Banned	Non-foam containers, such as fiber or paper

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) publishes a plain-language summary. The Vermont DEC single-use products fact sheet is the state’s own overview of each rule.

Plastic Carryout Bags

Vermont’s plastic bag ban stops stores and restaurants from giving out plastic carryout bags at checkout. The rule covers any point of sale, including a restaurant’s takeout counter.

The ban includes plastic bags labeled “compostable.” It also covers plastic bags marketed as recyclable or as breaking down over time. A label on the bag doesn’t change the rule.

Vermont’s rule applies to carryout bags provided at the point of sale. Bags sold as products on shelves, like boxes of trash bags, are generally outside the rule. Some bags used inside the store are also exempt, which we cover in the exemptions section below.

Plastic Straws

Plastic straws are available by request only. Your staff can’t hand them out by default, but they can give one to a customer who asks. Paper and metal straws can be offered freely.

The by-request rule also applies to “compostable” plastic straws. That includes plant-based straws made with bioplastic, which is plastic made from plant sources. A plant-based label doesn’t move a straw outside the rule.

Here’s how that applies to our own straws. Greenprint® Compostable Agave straws blend Agave Fibers with PLA/PBAT, a compostable bioplastic compound. They’re BPI certified, and some lines carry TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME certification.

Because they contain a compostable bioplastic (PLA/PBAT), we recommend treating them as compostable plastic straws. Serve them by request only, and confirm with DEC at 802-828-1138 if you’re unsure. Our agave-based compostable drinking straws suit customers who ask for one, but don’t treat them as exempt.

Certification tells you where a straw is designed to break down, which matters for your waste plan. Our guide to home versus industrial composting explains the difference.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities are exempt. They can provide plastic straws freely.

Plastic Stirrers

Plastic stirrers are banned. Wood and metal stirrers are allowed. Check your coffee station, bar, and condiment area for plastic stirrers.

Expanded Polystyrene Food Containers

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a lightweight plastic foam. Many people call it Styrofoam, which is a brand name. Vermont bans these EPS food and beverage containers:

• Plates.

• Cups.

• Bowls.

• Trays.

• Take-out containers.

• Egg cartons.

For a restaurant, this usually means foam clamshells, soup cups, and coffee cups have to go. For a retailer, it can mean foam egg cartons and prepared-food trays. Foam brings its own waste problems, which we cover in the problems with polystyrene foam.

A few EPS uses are still allowed. We list them in the next section.

What Items Are Exempt From Vermont’s Plastic Ban?

Several items fall outside the Vermont plastic ban. Knowing them helps you avoid replacing products you don’t need to replace.

These bags are exempt from the carryout bag ban:

• Bags for loose items in a store, such as produce, frozen foods, meat, fish, flowers, and small hardware.

• Bags for prescription medications.

• Bags for dry cleaning or large garments.

These expanded polystyrene items are exempt from the foam ban:

• Trays used to package uncooked meat, fish, poultry, or seafood.

• Products packaged out of state.

• Products packaged for sale out of state.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities may also provide plastic straws freely. Bags sold as shelf products, like trash bags, generally fall outside the carryout rule.

If you aren’t sure whether an item is exempt, ask DEC before you reorder. DEC can confirm how the rule applies to your products.

The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) is a public solid waste district in Vermont. Its CSWD business guide to the law is a useful second reference when you check an item.

Do Vermont Stores Charge for Paper Bags?

Yes, stores and restaurants can still offer paper bags at checkout under Vermont’s single-use plastic bag ban. Vermont’s DEC paper bag fee rules say they must charge at least $0.10 per paper bag. The business keeps the fee.

Small, lightweight paper bags don’t need a fee. These are generally shorter than 10 inches, or they have a basis weight of 30 pounds or less. Basis weight is a standard industry measure of how heavy paper is.

For a restaurant, the small-bag exception may cover a bag for a single pastry. Larger takeout bags need the fee, so set your point-of-sale system to add it automatically.

As a shopper, you’ll pay the fee whenever you take a full-size paper bag at checkout. The easiest way to skip it is to bring a reusable bag. Businesses can post a sign at the door to remind customers before they reach the register.

How Can Vermont Businesses Stay Compliant?

Most businesses can comply with a few clear steps. Start with what you already stock, then update your policies. Repeat the review when you add menu items or new packaging.

1. Audit your inventory. List every bag, straw, stirrer, and foam item you buy.

2. Switch foam to fiber. Replace EPS clamshells, cups, plates, and bowls with fiber or paper versions.

3. Set a straw-on-request policy. Keep straws out of self-serve areas and offer them only when asked.

4. Swap your stirrers. Stock wood or metal stirrers instead of plastic.

5. Set your paper bag fee. Charge at least $0.10 per bag and program it into your register.

6. Train your staff. Make sure every shift knows the bag, straw, stirrer, and fee rules.

7. Post clear signs. Tell customers about the paper bag fee and that straws are available on request.

When you buy compostable replacements, look for a named third-party certification, such as BPI or TÜV Austria. Ask suppliers for the certificate before you reorder. Our guide to compostable certification labels explained shows how to read them.

Labels like “plant-based” or “breaks down naturally” don’t mean a product is certified compostable. Our article on how compostable labels differ explains what to look for.

If you sell in more than one state, rules can change at the border. Our plastic regulation guide for businesses covers laws beyond Vermont. For Vermont questions, contact DEC at VTrecycles.com or 802-828-1138.

Greenprint Can Help

Greenprint® makes foodware that helps you replace banned foam. Our Fiberware™ bagasse clamshells and bowls are made from bagasse, the sugarcane fiber left after juice is pressed out. They’re certified TÜV Austria OK Compost INDUSTRIAL, so they’re designed for industrial composting facilities.

Fiberware™ also includes plates, which replace foam plates for dine-in and catering. For hot drinks, Renewacups™ paper hot cups replace foam coffee cups at cafes and restaurants.

Our Compostable Agave straws fit a by-request straw policy. Because they contain PLA/PBAT bioplastic, we recommend treating them as compostable plastic straws and serving them only on request.

If you need help matching sizes to your current foam items, contact our team. We’ll help you find a replacement for each item on your list.

Shop sustainable foodware products in our store, where you’ll find compliant foam-free foodware for your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Did Vermont’s Plastic Bag Ban Take Effect?

Vermont’s plastic bag ban took effect on July 1, 2020. Per the PackagingLaw.com Act 69 report, Gov. Phil Scott signed Act 69 on June 17, 2019.

Are Compostable Plastic Bags Allowed in Vermont?

No. Stores and restaurants can’t provide plastic carryout bags at checkout, even if the bags are labeled compostable.

Are Compostable Straws Allowed in Vermont?

Yes, but compostable plastic straws are by request only, just like regular plastic straws. Paper and metal straws can be offered freely.

What Other States Have Banned Plastic Bags?

Several other states have statewide plastic bag laws, and each one sets different rules. Our guide to state-by-state plastic bag bans answers what states have banned plastic bags and how their laws compare.