Seven years after Jackson became one of the first Wyoming communities to ban single-use plastic bags, the numbers tell a clear story: less plastic on the streets, and more than three quarters of a million dollars reinvested into community environmental programs.
How the Ordinance Works
Jackson's plastic bag ordinance, implemented in April 2019, prohibits single-use plastic bags — defined as less than four millimeters thick — at retail point-of-sale. When customers need a bag, retailers charge 20 cents per paper or reusable bag. Half of that fee goes back to the retailer to cover bag costs; the other half is remitted to Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling (ISWR).
Through 2025, ISWR has collected $761,472 in total fees — averaging approximately $108,780 annually across the seven years of the program.
The Goal: Zero
"Ideally, we would love for that number to be zero, meaning no one ever needed a" disposable bag. The fee helps discourage unnecessary use while keeping options available." — Cindy Harger, ISWR Waste Diversion Outreach Coordinator
Where the Money Goes
ISWR operates as a not-for-profit entity, directing all fee revenue back into community environmental initiatives.
Programs Funded by the Bag Fee
- Free Christmas tree composting for residents
- Household hazardous waste collection programs
- Seasonal community cleanup events
- Waste reduction and diversion projects across Teton County
Visible Results on the Ground
Beyond the numbers, the ordinance has produced a tangible change in the local environment. Town of Jackson Public Works manager Sam Jewison noted that plastic bags have become "largely absent from the dirt, gravel and debris screened from snow" at the rodeo grounds since the ban took effect — a visible sign of reduced plastic litter across the valley.
"There's been a noticeable decline in local plastic bag litter." — Teton County ISWR