While markets in Albuquerque and throughout Bernalillo County effectively banned plastic bags on Jan. 1, local shoppers are uncertain about which stores will be strictly enforcing the new law and what will be the price of reusable bags.
KOAT 7 discovered that the city of Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department is requiring health inspectors to routinely monitor grocery stores to ensure that no plastic bags are being used. Stores are currently in a six-month grace period where they will only be issued warnings to switch materials.
After the grace period concludes, stores will be charged fines if they do not utilize new bags by then.
Walmart currently offers their reusable bags composed of recyclable materials for just 10 cents per bag. The store says each bag can be used around 125 times.
Target is handing out similar bags, but at no charge. In addition, Lowe’s Marketplace and Smith’s, and local businesses such as Silver Street Market offer paper bags for free.
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