Jonathan Bach|Statesman Journal
Plastic shopping bags willsoon begin disappearing from checkstands across Salem, forcing residents either tobringreusable bags when they shop or pay a small fee for paper, underaban that kicks inApril 1.
For a glimpse of what's to come with Salem's ban, look no further than the Natural Grocers store in South Salem, which hasn't offered plastic at checkoutsince opening in 2013.
Natural Grocers employeesletcustomerschoose between inexpensive reusable bags andfree cardboard boxes. Fruits and vegetables also are bagged in small, paper bags. Natural Grocers, based in Colorado, claims to have kept more than 300 million plastic bags from landfills.
Tips: How to switch to reusable bags and make the habit stick
Salem Store Manager Sara Harding faced ahurdlemany shoppers can relate to whilemaking the switch: forgetting to bring areusable bag. Her solution has been to stowa small reusable bagin her handbag, making it easier to remember.
"The foldable ones are definitely a lifesaver," she said. City officials also recommend residents storereusable bags in their cars, briefcases and backpacks.
Retailers making the switch canexpect some angry customers after April 1. "You can't please everyone," Harding said.
Legislation: Will Oregon become the second state to ban plastic shopping bags?
Even though the store has been in Salem for nearlysix years, she said, customers are still sometimestaken aback when they learnabout Natural Grocers' no-plastic stance.
When there is a disgruntled customer, Harding usually tries to pointthem to the 99-cent reusable bag— though in cases wherea customer is especially upset, she'll offer a bag for free.
As a Salem resident who shops around the city, Harding is excited about the ban. She didn't realize how much plastic she personally wasteduntil she started working for the company.
Watch: How plastic bags impact the environment
Stores often double-bag products because plasticbags are so thin."It's just crazy," she said.
Reusable bags at Natural Grocers range in price from 99 cents to $5.99. The cardboard boxes are free; using themstretchesout the lifespan of the box before they getrecycled. Store employees don't offer paper bags at the registerto take home groceries.
The April deadline affects storeslarger than 10,000 square feet, while smaller retailers have until Sept. 1 to get rid of the bags. Exceptions exist in some situations, such as when baggingmeat in a plastic bag. Paper bags will cost at least 5 cents each, though city officials are encouraging residents to switch to reusable bags.
Previous coverage: Salem City Council bans plastic shopping bags
The move reflects an effort by Salem leaders to bolster environment protections within the city; Keizer is not affected by the ban.
"Last November, theSalem City Councilpassed the ordinance to reduce the use of single-use plastic carryout bags in Salem as a way to protect the environment, reduce litter and improve animal health," City Manager Steve Powers said in a statement.
On Tuesday, West Salem resident Vicky Garnier used a fewreusable bags to take what she bought from the store out to her Toyota Prius.
Garnier has been shopping at Natural Grocers since moving to Salem last November, calling them "one of the pioneers" in the reduce-reuse-recycle effort. Preservingthe environment is important to her: "This is the only planet we have."
Tips for keeping your reusable shopping bags safe and clean
Using reusable bags instead of plastic bags is a big plus for the environment. But, if you forget to clean them, they could become a major negative for your health.
Statesman Journal
More than a dozen other Oregon cities, including Portland and Corvallis, have adopted similar bans. Salem approved its ban in November. Silvertonearlier this year approved a plastic bag ban thatofficials will begin to enforce July 1. State lawmakers also have floated the idea of a plastic bag tax and plastic straw ban.
Salem's ban will affectretailers that sell groceries,including Roth's Fresh Markets, Fred Meyer and Safeway. But it's not just for grocers: Businesseslike electronics retailerBest Buy and department store Macy's also will have to comply with the rules.
Some retailers aren't waiting for government intervention:As it stands, Natural GrocersandTrader Joe's don'toffer plastic bags.
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Nationally, Kroger Co., which operates Fred Meyer stores,announced in August it plans tostop offering plastic shopping bags at itsstores by 2025, instead shifting to reusable bags as part of a sustainability plan.
Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullencalled the decision"a bold move that will better protect our planet for future generations," and, in a USA TODAY opinion article, said others in the food industry should ditch plastic shopping bags, too.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality supports banning plastic bagsat checkstandsand chargingfees forpaper bags, citing data that shows fees lead customers to opt against using new bags.Single-use plastic bags worsen problems with litter and create issues for recyclersin Oregon, according to thedepartment.
Contact reporter Jonathan Bachat jbach@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6714, or follow him on Twitter at @jonathanmbach.
