Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect In South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday

A ban on single use plastic bags goes into effect in the city limits of South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.

Local grocery stores have been preparing for the new ordinance which was voted on by the City Council on October 15, 2013.

Mike Schouten, who with his wife Kim own the South Lake Tahoe Grocery Outlet, says they have been prepping their cashiers on how to present the lack of plastic bags to their customers. They've also been communicating with their customers as to what to expect so no one will be surprised on their next shopping trip. "Some are surprised and appreciate being notified," said Schouten.

They recently gave out a few thousand reusable bags to customers. Starting Wednesday, paper bags will be available for purchase at check out for five cents and the reusable bags for ten cents. "To be honest, we plan on learning a lot tomorrow as to what the shoppers what," added Schouten.

The City of South Lake Tahoe Lead Safe Program has been distributing free reusable bags at local grocery stores this week. On Monday they handed out over 300 at the Raley's Stateline store. On Tuesday they were handing the bags out to Safeway customers walking in the door. During the first day of the ban on Wednesday they'll be at Raley's at the Y from 1 pm to 3:30 pm and at the Grocery Outlet store from 4 pm to 6 pm. Lead Safe Tahoe had 1500 bags to give away.

According to April Kirkhuff of Raley's at the Y, they are pulling all single use plastic bags out of the store at midnight on Tuesday. Shoppers can purchase paper bags at the check out stand for five cents. Store employees will be handing out 500 free reusable bags to shoppers on Wednesday. All of their unused single use bags will be sent to their Carson City store.

Safeway declined to comment but it was discovered that shoppers who spend $75 get three free reusable bags, spend $25 for one free bag and they too will be selling paper bags at checkout.