Hawaii Led the Way in Banning Plastic Bags
In a pioneering move, Hawaii led the charge against plastic pollution by banning plastic bags from stores. This initiative began in July 2015 on Oahu, the most populous Hawaiian island, and later extended to other islands, making Hawaii the first state to prohibit plastic bag use entirely.
Since 2015, grocery stores across Hawaii have prohibited plastic bag distribution. Only reusable, compostable, and recyclable paper bags are permitted, except for medical and sanitary items.
