Want to use a plastic carryout bag at your favorite store in Dallas?
It will soon cost you.
The Dallas City Council Wednesday morning voted 8-6 to approve a partial ban on plastic bags – the kind you see flying around on freeways and in trees.
Starting in January, the thin plastic take-out bags will be banned from city facilities and city events, but Dallas retailers can still offer plastic bags for a fee – five cents for a bag.
It took more than a year, but Dallas City Council member Dwaine Caraway told KERA before the meeting he was confident he had the votes to pass the partial ban.
“Either we’re going to be green city, as the world is moving toward green, or we’re going to be kinda green, light green or mint green,” Caraway told KERA. “Either we’re going to be serious about our commitment or we’re going to half do the job.”
Kroger spokesman Gary Huddleston said banning plastic bags creates other problems.
“The theft has gone up because there are some customers, dishonest customers, that get a reusable bag, fill them up … and don’t pay for it,” he said.
Stores that don’t comply will be fined $500. But retailers will get to keep part of the five-cent bag fee.
