BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 29, 2021
As of July 1, stores and restaurants in Maine won’t be able to provide customers with single-use plastic bags. This new state enforcement means that carry-out bags at the point of sale must be reusable or recycled paper. There are some exceptions built into the law, like pharmacy bags used to transport prescriptions, bags used inside retail locations by customers to package things like fruit, newspaper bags, laundry or dry cleaning bags, and a handful of others. After multiple delays, these new plastic bag and foam container bans are taking effect. So don’t forget your reusable bags when you go to the grocery store, don’t be surprised when you have to pay at least 5 cents for a paper bag, and don’t expect to see too many foam food containers (again, with some exceptions).