Seattle plastic bag ban begins

Published 3:47 pm Sunday, July 1, 2012

SEATTLE — Seattle’s plastic bag ban has started.

KING-TV reported that plastic bags will no longer be available at most retail stores. Stores will charge customers 5 cents for paper bags.

The ban is designed to encourage the use of reusable bags.

To help shoppers, Seattle Public Utilities and Safeway are giving away 32,000 reusable grocery bags at the grocery stores on Sunday.