An ordinance banning plastic bags at Santa Monica stores went into effect Wednesday.

The city is giving stores until Sept. 1 to make the transition from plastic to reusable bags. Ralph’s told ATVN they do not plan to make the transition until the September deadline. The 99 Cent Store said they will charge customers ten cents per plastic bag this month. Most grocery stores in Santa Monica will continue to offer recyclable paper bags for ten cents each.

Convenience and liquor stores can no longer distribute single-use plastic bags. Pharmacies and supermarkets are also included in the ban. Any plastic bags given out at places where the ban is effect will need to charge 10 cents per bag. Department, clothing and hardware stores will be restricted in the types of plastic bags they use but will not have to make customers pay for their bags. 

Enforcement for the ban will not begin for six months with fines starting at $75 for each violation. Repeated violations could be criminally prosecuted.

The Santa Monica City Council passed the ban in a 4 to 0 vote on Jan. 25, 2011.