Purpose

• This bill aims to reduce plastic waste by changing how the state buys certain disposable plastic products.
• It directs state agencies to avoid plastic single-use items used for serving, holding, or transporting food and beverages, and to set up bidding rules that reflect this prohibition.
• The changes are designed to promote environmental sustainability in state procurement.

Main Provisions

• Definitions:
  • food service ware: disposable items used to serve, hold, or transport prepared food and beverages (examples include plates, bowls, cups, lids, straws, trays, cutlery, and clamshell containers).
  • single-use product: a product designed to be used only once before disposal.
• Prohibition scope:
  • State agencies may not purchase plastic-based single-use food service ware.
  • State agencies may not purchase plastic bottles whose capacity is 21 fluid ounces or less.
• Bid specifications:
  • The commissioner and state agencies must issue bid specifications that prohibit the purchase of these plastic single-use products.
• Exceptions (carve-outs):
  • The prohibition does not apply if the prohibited products are unavailable.
  • Exemptions allow purchases needed in preparation for or in response to an emergency.
  • Purchases necessary to protect health, safety, or welfare are exempt.
  • Accommodations for persons with disabilities are exempt.
• Relationship to existing law:
  • The provisions apply to purchases made under delegated authority and integrate into Minnesota procurement practices and statutory frameworks.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a statewide prohibition on purchasing plastic single-use food service ware and small plastic bottles (≤21 oz) by state agencies.
• Requires updating procurement processes to include bid specifications that ban these specific plastic products.
• Establishes explicit definitions for key terms (food service ware and single-use product) to guide enforcement and procurement.
• Introduces explicit emergency, health/safety/welfare, and disability accommodation exemptions to ensure essential needs can still be met in certain situations.

Relevant Terms - single-use product - plastic - food service ware - bottles - 21 fluid ounces - bid specifications - state agencies - procurement - emergency - health safety or welfare - accommodations - disabilities - Minnesota Statutes chapter 16C