Homer city council in Alaska has banned disposable plastic shopping bags.

Homer city council has become one of a few Alaskan communities to prohibit plastic bags.

Kachemak Bay businesses are now barred from giving customers disposable plastic shopping bags less than 2.25mm thick, as these are deemed by the law to be "not suitable for continuous reuse".

The motion was passed by a 4-2 vote, Anchorage Daily News report.

City councilman David Lewis, who supported the new measure explained that the rule applies to the "cheap plastic bag stores handed out by the tens of thousands or tens of millions".

It refers to thin plastic grocery bags, however excludes bags designed for bulk items, such as nuts, grains or small hardware goods.

While the area of Homer may not have a visible plastic bag problem, environmental concerns were raised before the decision was made.

Councillor Beau Burgess explained that marine and land pollution was one of the main motivating factors for some of council voters.

He told the newspaper: "Homer draws its economic livelihood from tourism and fisheries and there are plenty of viable, good alternatives to plastic bags."

The new ordinance will not take immediate effect, allowing the council to spread awareness of the decision.

Businesses therefore have until January 1st 2013 to use up any of their pre-existing inventories of plastic bags before the compliance date.

Grocery stores and supermarkets are likely to be impacted the most by the ban, as many regularly use thin plastic bags to store customer's shopping.

Regional supermarkets have yet to comment on the ordinance, however anyone found to breach the new law could be forced to pay a fine of $50 (£31.53).

It is not yet sure how the council would enforce such a cost, as the rules are currently in the planning stages.

Other communities across Alaska have been attempting similar plans to ban or tax plastic bag use, with many stores in Bethel and Hooper Bay now choosing to use paper bags instead.