Bans on plastic bags grow in the Coachella Valley

Say goodbye to plastic bags at liquor stores in Palm Springs

As of Sunday convenience and liquor stores will no longer provide single-use carryout plastic bags to customers.

This is part of the city’s initiative to become a more green and sustainable community.

Some liquor store owners are not pleased with the ban.

“I don’t think we have that big of a problem with plastic bags filling our garbage dumps. I mean if we’re getting rid of our plastic bags we have now they’re still going to the dumps. Actually people use and reuse plastic bags,” liquor store owner Costa Nichols said.

Other people are glad to see the bags gone.

“Well, they get into the ocean. Fish are caught in them. They trap all kinds of dirt and debris and people use them to put trash in to throw trash around. So there’s a lot of reasons why they’re bad,” Palm Springs Liquor employee William Brown said.

The city’s helping businesses make the transition from plastic with a grant incentive program.

Participating businesses could be eligible to receive up to $500.

For more information on how to qualify click here.