Plastic bag ban at Bellingham stores

BELLINGHAM, WA (NEWS1130) – The next time you pick up some groceries across the border, bring your own bags! A plastic bag ban takes effect in Bellingham today.

“Grocery stores will no longer be offering plastic bags… at all. There will be paper bags for sale,” explains Ken Oplinger with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce.

“If you do shop at grocery stores within the City of Bellingham, bringing [reusable] bags would make sense. Or, be prepared to pay a nickel for each of the paper bags,” he adds.

In the last couple of months, business has shot up eight per cent because of cross-border travellers; Oplinger doesn’t think the new by-law will change that trend.

Plastic bags are still being offered at stores in Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden.