ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Starting next year, store owners in Homer will no longer be giving customers plastic shopping bags.
The Homer City Council on Monday passed a ban on the bags.
Councilman David Lewis says the ordinance arose from concern over land and marine pollution caused by plastic bags. Lewis says Homer’s economy is based on tourism and fisheries, and there are plenty of other good alternatives.
Small plastic bags used to hold items such as baked goods will continue to be allowed.
Homer is the latest Alaska community to ban plastic bags. Bethel also Hooper Bay also have laws against their use.
A citizen-sponsored ballot proposition last year would have taxed them in Juneau, but the measure failed.
Homer’s ordinance takes effect January 1, 2013.
