Solid Waste Management Department Updating Clean and Green Retail Ordinance

November 1, 2021

The City of Albuquerque’s Solid Waste Management Department is providing public notice that it is updating a definition about plastic bag thickness in the Clean and Green Retail Ordinance. The ordinance was passed by City Council in January 2020 but paused due to the pandemic, then reinstated August 2021. Moving forward, the ordinance will phase out the use of 2.25 mil plastic bags at the point of sale. The change will apply to all businesses except for food service establishments, food banks, and dry cleaners starting in 30 days on December 1, 2021.

An acceptable reusable bag will be one “with stitched handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and is either: (a) Made of cloth or other machine washable fabric; OR (b) Is made of plastic AND is greater than 4 mils thick.”

The City’s Solid Waste Management Department is notifying businesses about the plastic bag ban update starting today, to provide ample time for businesses to make adjustments by next month’s deadline.

For more information, visit cabq.gov/cleanANDgreen