Maine Moves to Ban Small Plastic Toiletry Bottles in Hotels
A new bill in Maine is making waves in the hospitality sector. This legislation aims to eliminate small, plastic toiletry bottles—often found in hotels and similar accommodations—from use. The goal? To cut down on waste.
As the bill advances through the Pine Mokuzhou Assembly, it seeks to prohibit lodging facilities, including hotels, motels, and vacation rentals, from offering these single-use containers for items like shampoo and conditioner. Beginning January 1, 2030, accommodations with over 50 rooms will be restricted from providing toiletry bottles smaller than six ounces.
The initiative doesn’t just stop there; by 2032, the ban will extend to smaller establishments with fewer than 50 rooms. If hotels fail to comply, they could face a civil penalty of $100.
Interestingly, while the bill suggests hotels can’t provide these small toiletries, it remains somewhat unclear if they can sell them to guests. Some larger chains, like Marriott and Hilton, seem to be ahead of the curve. They’ve started shifting to larger pump-top bottles in a bid to reduce plastic waste.
A spokesperson for Marriott mentioned they’ve long focused on enhancing their amenities to support sustainability, which likely influenced this move. Likewise, Hilton has transitioned to offering full-size shampoo and soap products at their locations starting in 2023.
Maine joins other states, including New York and California, that have implemented similar bans. Washington has a law set to take effect in 2027. It seems there’s a growing trend toward sustainability in the hospitality industry, and it’s certainly something to watch.
