Say hello to reusable bags: Large Salem retailers to scrap plastic shopping bags

Plastic shopping bags will soon begin disappearing from checkstands across Salem, forcing residents either to bring reusable bags when they shop or pay a small fee for paper, under a ban that kicks in April 1.

For a glimpse of what's to come with Salem's ban, look no further than the Natural Grocers store in South Salem, which hasn't offered plastic at checkout since opening in 2013.

Natural Grocers employees let customers choose between inexpensive reusable bags and free cardboard boxes. Fruits and vegetables also are bagged in small, paper bags. Natural Grocers, based in Colorado, claims to have kept more than 300 million plastic bags from landfills.

Tips:How to switch to reusable bags and make the habit stick

Salem Store Manager Sara Harding faced a hurdle many shoppers can relate to while making the switch: forgetting to bring a reusable bag. Her solution has been to stow a small reusable bag in her handbag, making it easier to remember.

"The foldable ones are definitely a lifesaver," she said. City officials also recommend residents store reusable bags in their cars, briefcases and backpacks.

Retailers making the switch can expect some angry customers after April 1. "You can't please everyone," Harding said.

Legislation:Will Oregon become the second state to ban plastic shopping bags?

Even though the store has been in Salem for nearly six years, she said, customers are still sometimes taken aback when they learn about Natural Grocers' no-plastic stance.

When there is a disgruntled customer, Harding usually tries to point them to the 99-cent reusable bag — though in cases where a customer is especially upset, she'll offer a bag for free.

As a Salem resident who shops around the city, Harding is excited about the ban. She didn't realize how much plastic she personally wasted until she started working for the company.

Watch:How plastic bags impact the environment

Stores often double-bag products because plastic bags are so thin. "It's just crazy," she said.

Reusable bags at Natural Grocers range in price from 99 cents to $5.99. The cardboard boxes are free; using them stretches out the lifespan of the box before they get recycled. Store employees don't offer paper bags at the register to take home groceries.

The April deadline affects stores larger than 10,000 square feet, while smaller retailers have until Sept. 1 to get rid of the bags. Exceptions exist in some situations, such as when bagging meat in a plastic bag. Paper bags will cost at least 5 cents each, though city officials are encouraging residents to switch to reusable bags.

Previous coverage:Salem City Council bans plastic shopping bags

The move reflects an effort by Salem leaders to bolster environment protections within the city; Keizer is not affected by the ban.

"Last November, the Salem City Council passed the ordinance to reduce the use of single-use plastic carryout bags in Salem as a way to protect the environment, reduce litter and improve animal health," City Manager Steve Powers said in a statement.

On Tuesday, West Salem resident Vicky Garnier used a few reusable bags to take what she bought from the store out to her Toyota Prius.

Garnier has been shopping at Natural Grocers since moving to Salem last November, calling them "one of the pioneers" in the reduce-reuse-recycle effort. Preserving the environment is important to her: "This is the only planet we have."

More than a dozen other Oregon cities, including Portland and Corvallis, have adopted similar bans. Salem approved its ban in November. Silverton earlier this year approved a plastic bag ban that officials will begin to enforce July 1. State lawmakers also have floated the idea of a plastic bag tax and plastic straw ban.

Salem's ban will affect retailers that sell groceries, including Roth's Fresh Markets, Fred Meyer and Safeway. But it's not just for grocers: Businesses like electronics retailer Best Buy and department store Macy's also will have to comply with the rules.

Some retailers aren't waiting for government intervention: As it stands, Natural Grocers and Trader Joe's don't offer plastic bags.

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Nationally, Kroger Co., which operates Fred Meyer stores, announced in August it plans to stop offering plastic shopping bags at its stores by 2025, instead shifting to reusable bags as part of a sustainability plan.

Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen called the decision "a bold move that will better protect our planet for future generations," and, in a USA TODAY opinion article, said others in the food industry should ditch plastic shopping bags, too.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality supports banning plastic bags at checkstands and charging fees for paper bags, citing data that shows fees lead customers to opt against using new bags. Single-use plastic bags worsen problems with litter and create issues for recyclers in Oregon, according to the department.

Contact reporter Jonathan Bach at jbach@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6714, or follow him on Twitter at @jonathanmbach.