From the City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection August Consumer Source:

“On August 1, 2016 the second phase of the City of Chicago’s Plastic Bag Ban (click link or see below) will be implemented and enforced. Smaller chain and franchise retailers with floor space less than 10,000 square feet will be required to come into compliance as larger stores were required last year.

For consumers, that means you can still bring your own plastic carryout bags. But stores that provided its customers with carryout bags before the ban will only be able to provide reusable bags, recyclable paper bags or commercially compostable plastic bags. Stores that did not provide any type of bags for customers before the ban will not be required to provide reusable or compostable bags.

The ban does not apply to any dine-in or take-out restaurant or small independent or non-franchise stores.

As part of the City’s coordinated effort to build awareness about these changes, the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection will host a workshop regarding the new laws on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at City Hall, Room 805 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

(For more from the City BACP Consumer Source for August, click here.)

The City of Chicago’s plastic bag ban will take effect on August 1, 2015, for individual stores with a floor area more than 10,000 square feet:

• Stores affected by this ban are chain stores, defined as (1) three or more stores having common ownership, or (2) any store, regardless of ownership, that is part of a franchise.

• A store is defined as a retail establishment, other than an establishment set for in section 11-4-4010, that sells perishable or non-perishable goods, including but not limited to clothing, food
and personal items.

• The ban does not apply to any dine-in or take-out restaurant, or any store that is not chain store organization.

• Store shall provide reusable bags, recyclable paper bags or commercially compostable plastic bags for customers if they provided plastic carryout bags prior to the ban.

• If the store did not provide carryout bags of any type for customers before the ban, they are not required to provide reusable or compostable bags.

• Customers may still bring their own plastic carryout bags.

• Fines run between $100 and $300 each time the ordinance is violated.

The ban will be extended to smaller chain stores and franchises in August 2016, while small independent or non-franchise stores and restaurants will not be affected.

Click Article XXIII. Retail Bag Use for more information.