08-03-2025
Plastic bags in retail stores could soon be banned with new bill
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The plastic bags most New Mexicans carry groceries or takeout food with might be different soon, statewide. That is, if a bill that's gaining traction makes it through the Roundhouse. A Democratic lawmaker's bill, HB 392, is leading the charge to ban most single-use plastic bags and boxes that are not able to be recycled or reused.
'What we have to do to help work towards mitigating the plastic waste crises is reduce some of these plastics that we simply don't need,' said Sarah Pierpont, Executive Director of New Mexico Recycling Coalition.
What advocates call a growing problem that needs to be tackled in New Mexico. Plastic waste is the target of the proposed 'Single-Use Plastic Bag Act,' which aims to ban the use of plastic bags at all New Mexico retail stores.
Under the proposed bill, plastic bags could still be used in some situations, like takeout liquids. If a customer doesn't bring their own bag? The law would make shoppers buy recycled paper bags for ten cents each. Cities or counties could also increase that fee.
'And that might seem like a big change and hard to manage but cities like Santa Fe and Las Cruces have done that and it really requires that the residents get on board and they bring their own bag and then it creates a funding mechanism for that community to help with litter prevention,' said Pierpont.
Rep. Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe) is a lead sponsor on the bill. She recently told lawmakers, New Mexico uses around 330 million single-use plastic bags each year. 'Plastic bags are not just polluting our world's oceans. they're also clogging up New Mexico's acequias waterways and roadsides, costing millions of dollars to clean up,' said Rep. Lujan.
If the bill passes, retailers could face up to $1,000 fines for any violations. While a similar bill died two years ago, supporters say they're feeling confident this time. 'It's just like any 60-day session, we are all racing to get across the finish line. It's not dead yet, we're feeling really optimistic,' said Pierpont.
A portion of the money collected from the bag fees would also go to local governments for litter and waste reduction projects. The bill also carves out an exception for people on assistance programs. The bill passed its first committee this session and is slated to face a second committee Friday night.
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