Oklahoma moves to stop towns from fees, bans on plastic bags

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma lawmakers are considering legislation to prevent cities and towns from imposing a fee on single-use plastic and paper bags, a measure that officials in one Oklahoma community say encroaches on their search for an innovative way to protect the environment from the problems of carelessly discarded bags.

Oklahoma is one of at least five states where lawmakers are considering pre-empting local governments from taxing or banning plastic bags that are used to carry everything from groceries to clothing and cosmetics, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures' website. Eleven other states, including Texas, Arizona and Florida, already have pre-emptions laws in place, the NCSL said.

The Oklahoma measure was proposed as leaders in Norman, about 17 miles (28 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City, consider imposing a 5-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags as city leaders explore ways limit a leading source of litter and pollution.

Mayor-elect Breea Clark, a member of the Norman City Council, said the city leads the state in participation in curbside recycling but that recyclers statewide are refusing to accept single-use plastic bags because they get stuck in the recycling equipment.

Read more: https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/oklahoma-moves-to-stop-towns-from-fees-bans-on-plastic/article_f91d53e9-afa6-5857-bcdb-58d86fe4cfab.html