7 Facts About the Single-Use Bag Ban

The in Watsonville starts Friday.

It's something many in Watsonville are proud of because the city is the first in the county to ban plastic bags (though they eliminated in the unincorporated area of the county back in March).

Still, the change . Remembering to bring bags into the store is a new habit to learn and hording enough canvas bags to carry out all your family's groceries may be hard in the beginning.

These facts may put your fears at ease.

1. You won't need a duffel bag to carry your groceries. There will be bag give-aways at several Watsonville stores Friday. For example, city staff members will be handing out reusable bags at and on Freedom Bouelvard. Patch also has 500 bags to give away.
2. Those who receive food stamps will also get free bags. The city won't ding your limited grocery budget for paper bag fees.
3. Plastic bags still will be available in the produce and meat sections of the store so you can keep the raw chicken away from fresh berries.
4. Worried about how to pooper-scoop? Save those produce bags as well as bread bags to use when Bodie goes for a walk. Here are some quick DIY projects to make your own pop bag dispenser by reusing other items like a milk jug or Kleenex box.
5. The small fees shoppers pay for paper bags does not go to the city. Nope. The money goes back to the retailer to pay for the bags.
6. You can still have a plastic bag to carry take-out, so won't spill on the way home.
7. Will you sometimes forget your canvas bags? Totally. with , which went into effect in the spring. Other shoppers might shame you, or you may try to stuff all of your purchases in your pockets or purse.

The bag ban starts Friday morning. Stay tuned to Patch to find out where we'll be passing out free bags that afternoon.