Oklahoma governor signs law banning bans on plastic bags

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has reportedly signed a law banning bans and fines on plastic bags. 

“I want to make sure I make it easy for industry to do business in Oklahoma,” Stitt said at the bill-signing on Tuesday, according to KFOR in Oklahoma City.

The bill blocks municipalities from banning or putting a tax on auxiliary containers made of plastic, cloth, paper, cardboard, aluminum and glass, the station noted, adding that Stitt stressed regulatory consistency in signing the measure.{mosads}

“I just don’t think that we should be putting laws and rules on business from 500 municipalities,” he said, according to KFOR.

The legislation, which was approved by the state House and Senate, comes shortly after Norman, Okla., announced plans to put a 5 cent tax on single-use plastic bags.

“They are not good for the environment. They blow all over the place. The plastic bags do a lot of damage to the equipment and that’s gonna drive up the cost of recycling,” Norman Mayor Lynne Miller told KFOR.

Miller added that she believes the legislation steps on local authorities’ toes.

“It takes away the rights we believe cities should have,” she said. “There is always a lot of talk about the federal government staying out of the states’ business and to some extent the municipalities feel the same way.”

Oklahoma’s new restriction on plastic bans comes as several other states are making pushes toward the elimination of single-use plastics.