Plastic bag ban goes into effect in King City

As of Thursday King City grocery stores ditched single-use plastic bags. Residents now have the choice to either bring their own bag or pay 10 cents for paper or reusable plastic. Cashier Areley Camacho said shoppers are adjusting to the idea.

“First they were not very happy. You know 10 cents, they were like, ‘I don’t want to pay that.’ Now they know to bring their own bags,” said Camacho.

Storeowners who don’t follow the new law will face fines up to $100. There are a few exceptions. Restaurants, farmers markets and nonprofits will still be allowed to use single-use plastic bags.

Meanwhile, on the state level California has become the first state in the country to ban single-use plastic bags. But the law won’t go into effect until July 1.

On the Central Coast, Carmel, Capitola, Watsonville and Santa Cruz already have similar laws on the books. King City now joins the group and stores are making sure the change comes as no surprise to shoppers by posting signs. Camacho said they’ve had plenty of advance notice.

“It’s been almost three months that they were on the door. So people knew already that we’re not going to have any more plastic bags,” said Camacho.

City leaders said the purpose of the ordinance is to reduce the amount of plastic bag pollution and they said with the new law every shopper can make a difference.