The age of the paper bag has begun in Barrington, Rhode Island.

The age of the paper bag has begun in Barrington, Rhode Island after a ban was put in place on the use of their plastic counterparts.

Officials have claimed that using paper bags will reduce the amount of plastic sent to landfill and will encourage recycling, making reductions in the region’s environmental impact.

However, while the decision has been backed by many and billed as a major step forward, there has nonetheless been some dissent from shoppers in the area.

Eco RI News reports that there remains a split among the local population as to the effectiveness of the decision, with one man telling the news source that it was an “unwanted invasion of government”.

That said, there are plenty who back the plans with John Bergmark describing it as a “good beginning” and Tristan Barako saying he was “all for it”.

“I think it’s wasteful to use a bag once and throw it out,” he added and while there is not a charge for paper bags as yet, Mr Barako suggested that this may do even more to encourage people to reuse them.

George Tamer, who owns the Center Ace Hardware store, said he is in favour of the ban too and that he has “had no problems with customers” over the decision as yet.

Similarly, the spokesperson for Shaw’s, the only supermarket in the town, said there had not been any issues as yet and that the transition had been smooth.

In particular, Steve Sylven said customers were keen on paper bags with handles to enable ease of shopping.

The ban on plastic bags comes to an end in two years time while there will also be reconsiderations in others parts of the US on the practice as well as an expected bill in the General Assembly.

This, if it is eventually announced, would look at seeking a state-wide ban on plastic bags and so the issue of paper versus plastic does not look like coming to an end anytime soon.

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