New law forces Chicago stores to recycle plastic bags

Grocery and drug stores in Chicago will soon be required to recycle plastic bags under an ordinance that passed the City Council Wednesday. 

Shoppers can expect to see plastic bag recycling bins at retailers within the next six to nine months. Stores are responsible for making sure the plastic doesn't end up in landfills. Noncompliance can result in a daily fine of $500.

"This is the first step in the process to deal with the billions of plastic bags that are polluting the environment worldwide," said Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th), who introduced the bill along with Ald. Edward Burke (14th). 

Retailers must print "Please reuse or recycle" on all plastic bags. Stores are also required to sell reusable bags made of cloth or durable plastic as an option for eco-conscious consumers. 

The ordinance applies to all stores that pull in 25 percent of their gross sales from food or pharmaceuticals.  This means retailers like Best Buy and Target are unaffected, a fact that riled some environmentalists. 

Mike Nowak, vice president of the Chicago Recycling Coalition, said the city should have considered fees for plastic bags or an outright ban.

More stringent controls will be considered in the future according to Burke.

 "It is not a complete solution, but a step in the right direction,"  he said.