Single-Use Plastics Ban

Nantucket’s Single-Use Plastics Ban, beginning June 1, 2020, prohibits these single-use petroleum based plastic products from being commercially used, sold or distributed:
At a Special Town Meeting held on October 10, 2018, Town Meeting voted to adopt a bylaw banning certain single-use plastics from commercial sale or distribution, effective June 1, 2020. The bylaw was approved by the Attorney General and an internal Town Administration group is currently working on a public outreach campaign to educate the public and affected businesses as to the ban.

The bylaw prohibits the following single-use, petroleum-basedplastic products from being commercially sold or distributed:
- Straws and drink stirrers
- Six-pack can and bottle flexible yokes
- Drinking cups and lids
- Non-compostable plates and eating utensils
- Drinking water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) containers of 1 liter (34 ounces) or less. Note: most single-use plastic water bottles are made of PETE, identifiable by the plastic resin code
- Non-recyclable coffee pods
Please note, biodegradable packaging is already required under Nantucket’s 1990 Biodegradable Packaging Bylaw(§ 125-2.1).

Click here for the Sinlge-Use Plastics Bylaw.
Choose reusable options!

Here are some ideas to help Nantucket reduce plastic pollution:

Choose refillable water bottles. There are many water stations on Island. You can also switch your plastic bottles for glass or boxed water options.

Choose refillable coffee pods for your brewing machine. Always use reusable mugs. The Chamber has recycling for all Keurig cups, please set up a time to drop them off!

Use reusable straws. There are many options: glass, stainless steel, silicone, and bamboo - or leave the straw all together!

Thank You To Our Signature Sponsors

- View All Information on the Single-Use Plastic Ban Here
Remember, as a visitor or resident, it is up to you to make sure you dispose of your trash and recyclables properly.