Single-use plastic and paper bags restrictions

The ban on single use bags

In Jersey, customers no longer receive single use carrier bags made of plastic or paper when buying goods.

As a trader, you:

can’t import or supply single use paper and plastic bags
must charge at least 70 pence for a reusable bag made of recyclable paper or plastic. This must be charged separately and include GST

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t follow the law.

The restrictions are in place to:

reduce waste
encourage customers to bring their own bag
change our culture
support the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions

This doesn’t apply to bags made from other materials such as cotton, canvas and jute.

Single Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law 2021

Trader guide to single use plastics law

Single use plastic technical guidance

Guide for marketing and events

Bags you must charge for

If you supply the following bags, they must:

meet the specifications provided in the table below
be charged at a minimum of 70 pence, including GST

You can use the profits from selling these bags how you want.

If you’re a bag wholesaler or distributor, the minimum price doesn’t have to be added to the wholesale price.

Bag type
Plastic reusable bag
Paper reusable bag

Bag type	Definition
Plastic reusable bag	Carrier bag with or without handles, made of recyclable plastic, with wall thickness of 50 microns or above.
Paper reusable bag	Carrier bag with or without handles, made of recyclable paper to a weight of 170 gsm or above.

Bags you can supply for free

You can supply customers the following bags free of charge.

Bag type
Very lightweight plastic carrier bag
Paper 'counter' bag
Integral product packaging
Gift bag
Foil lined paper bag
Bags used for fish
Other

Bag type	Definition
Very lightweight plastic carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of plastic with wall thickness of less than 15 microns and meeting the OK Compost Home certification or equivalent.
Paper 'counter' bag	Paper bag with or without a handle, less than 50 gsm.
Integral product packaging	Bags that are an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to sale.
Gift bag	Paper bags, with or without handles, purchased for the intended purpose of gift wrapping only.
Foil lined paper bag	Bags used for heated food that give off grease and excess moisture such as rotisserie chicken.
Bags used for fish	Bags used to supply uncooked fish, fish products or live fish pre-packaged on your premises or packaged in front of the customer. If you supply a second bag for customers to transport the packaged product, you need to charge for this bag. If the products are pre-packaged off your premises, such as smoked salmon, you'll need to charge if supplying another bag for transport. Uncooked fish products cover: uncooked fish uncooked molluscs uncooked cephalopods uncooked crustaceans uncooked bivalves uncooked marine gastropods smoked fish products regardless of whether they're ready to eat. For example, kippers, smoked mackerel, or smoked salmon
Other	Bags such as bin liners and nappy sacks purchased and used for their intended purpose. Bags that are used for: uncooked meat and meat products prescription medicine or prescription appliances goods in transport, such as at an airport, plane or ship

Bags you can’t supply or import

You can’t supply of import the following bags.

Bag type
Lightweight plastic carrier bag
Very lightweight plastic carrier bag
Paper carrier bag
Non-recyclable plastic carrier bag
Non-recyclable paper carrier bag

Bag type	Definition
Lightweight plastic carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of plastic with wall thickness between 15 microns and 50 microns.
Very lightweight plastic carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of plastic with wall thickness of less than 15 microns and not meeting the OK Compost Home certification or equivalent. Plastic bags of less than 15 microns that comply with the OK Compost Home certification or equivalent, can be used.
Paper carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of paper to a weight between 50 grams per square meter (gsm) and 170 gsm.
Non-recyclable plastic carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of non-recyclable plastic, with wall thickness of 50 microns or above.
Non-recyclable paper carrier bag	Bags with or without handles, made of non-recyclable paper to a weight of 170 gsm or above.

Reuse scheme for second-hand bags

You can provide customers with a reuse scheme for second-hand bags.

A reuse scheme means that customers can bring pre-owned bags to your premises for other customers. These second-hand bags would be free of charge.

The scheme encourages recycling and extends the life of bags already in circulation.

OK Compost Home certification

Very lightweight plastic carrier bags you may supply free of charge must comply with the OK Compost Home certification, or equivalent.

The certification means that a bag is suitable for home composting.

The equivalents are:

France: NF T 51800 (2015). Specifications for plastics suitable for home composting
Europe: prEN 17427 (2020). Requirements and test scheme for packaging and carrier bags suitable for treatment in well-managed home composting installations
Australia: AS 5810 (2010). Biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting

Ok Compost Home on TÜV AUSTRIA (TÜV AUSTRIA are the certification body)