Chicago Partially Bans Plastic Bags

Exemptions approved for mom-and-pop retailers, restaurants and others.

May 02, 2014

CHICAGO – The Chicago City Council okayed a partial ban on plastic bags this week with a 36 to 10 vote, the Chicago Sun Times reports. The new law specifically exempts small mom-and-pop stores, all restaurants and non-franchise independent establishments with less than 10,000 square feet.

Compliance with the ban is on a rolling schedule: stores larger than 10,000 square feet need to comply by Aug. 1, 2015; establishments 10,000 square feet and less need to comply by Aug. 1, 2016. Fines between $300 to $500 could be levied per offense. The ordinance requires retailers covered by the ban to “provide reusable bags, recyclable paper bags or any combination thereof” to customers to be used to “carry away goods from the point of sale.”

Not everyone’s happy about the partial ban. Alderman Leslie Hairston didn’t support the ban because of concerns that the higher cost of paper bags will keep grocers out of her ward. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) said the decision would not have as large an impact on the environment because of the exemptions, but that retailers and customers would bear the brunt. Tanya Triche with IRMA said that the ordinance would increase prices and slash jobs.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement