Switching to bulk amenities?
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◆ Hospitality Compliance · Updated October 2026

Hotel Toiletry Bottle Bans
by State

◆ Short Answer

California, New York and Illinois already ban small plastic toiletry bottles in hotels, and Washington starts in 2027. Most use a 6-ounce limit; New York's limit is 12 ounces and has applied to every property, large or small, since January 1, 2026. The practical answer is bulk amenities in refillable dispensers.

By LuxeFormula Labs · Updated October 1, 2026 · 6 min read

The four state laws side by side

StateWhat is bannedProductsEffective
California
AB 1162		Plastic bottles under 6 ozShampoo, conditioner, bath soap and similar personal care products50+ rooms: Jan 1, 2023
Smaller: Jan 1, 2024
New York
Environmental Conservation Law		Small plastic bottles under 12 ozProducts for cleansing, conditioning or moisturizing the body — shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion50+ rooms: Jan 1, 2025
Smaller: Jan 1, 2026
Illinois
SB 2960		Bottles under 6 oz, not reusableShampoo, conditioner and bath soap used in the shower or bath; free on request outside the room50+ rooms: Jul 1, 2025
All: Jan 1, 2026
Washington
HB 1085		Containers under 6 oz and plastic wrappersShampoo, conditioner, hand and bath soap, body wash, lotion, hand sanitizer; refillable bulk exempt; on request allowed50+ units: Jan 1, 2027
Smaller: Jan 1, 2028

Green = already in force. Summaries of state laws and agency guidance (sources below); check the statute for full definitions, exemptions and penalties.

The New York trap: 12 ounces, not 6

Most chains standardized on bottles just over 6 ounces for California. That doesn't work in New York, where anything under 12 ounces is out. If you operate in several states, the simplest rule is to design for New York: bulk dispensers, or refillable containers of 12 ounces or more.

A switch plan that works in every state

  • Dispensers: wall-mounted or counter-anchored refillable dispensers in each bathroom, which is the route New York's environmental agency recommends.
  • Refills: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap and lotion in 1-gallon jugs or bag-in-box for housekeeping to refill.
  • Scent: one signature scent across the range, matched to lobby room spray or diffusers.
  • Labels: each dispenser labeled with product name and ingredients, as for any cosmetic.
  • Old stock: donate leftover minis — NYSDEC points hotels to programs such as Clean the World.
Need bulk amenities under your hotel's brand? We make shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap and lotion in gallons and bag-in-box, in your signature scent, from 100 units per SKU. Hotel bulk amenities →
FAQ

Bottle Ban
Questions

California, New York and Illinois already do, and Washington starts on January 1, 2027 for properties with 50 or more units and January 1, 2028 for smaller ones. Each law sets its own bottle size, product list and dates.
New York bans small plastic bottles containing less than 12 ounces of a hospitality personal care product. That is double the 6-ounce limit used in California, Illinois and Washington, so a 300 ml (about 10 oz) bottle that is fine elsewhere is still too small for New York.
January 1, 2026. Properties with 50 or more rooms had to comply from January 1, 2025.
It depends on the state. Illinois allows small bottles free of charge on request, as long as they are not placed in guest rooms or shared bathrooms, and Washington allows products in restricted containers on request. Check the specific law before relying on an on-request exception.
Refillable bulk dispensers — wall-mounted or counter-anchored — filled from gallons or bag-in-box refills. New York's environmental agency recommends this route. Larger refillable bottles above the state threshold are another option.
Yes. Bulk shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap and lotion can all be made in one scent, and the same scent can be used in room sprays and diffusers so the brand experience stays consistent.

Sources

  1. New York State DEC — Small plastic hospitality bottles
  2. Illinois SB 2960 — Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act (text)
  3. Washington Legislature — House Bill Report SHB 1085 as passed
  4. CBS Sacramento — California small bottle law (AB 1162)
  5. Packaging Dive — Illinois adopts law eliminating small hotel bottles

General information, not legal advice. Other states and cities may add rules; confirm local requirements.

Hotel bulk amenitiesShampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion Hotel signature scentRoom spray, diffusers, perfume Hand soap & foam washGallon and bag-in-box PFAS bans in cosmeticsState deadlines 2025–2032
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