Maine House Votes Down Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

The Maine House has voted against a bill to ban single-use plastic bags in the state by 2020.

The Democratically-controlled Maine House voted 84-62 against a plastic bag ban. Under the proposal, stores would no longer be able to use single-use plastic bags with the exception of a few items like prescriptions and newspapers after 2020.

In the original bill, a 5-cent fee was proposed, but was later changed in committee. The house rejected that measure as well. The 5-cent fee would be similar to one enacted in Portland earlier this month where retailers in the city are required to charge customers 5-cents for every plastic or paper shopping bag.

People in favor of than ban say it would help the environment, while opponents say the bill goes too far.

The bill will go to the Senate for consideration.

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