by Elizabeth Ruiz & Johnny Shannon
Starting Friday, it's BYOB in Austin-- Bring Your Own Bag.
The Austin City Council approved a ban on thin, single-use plastic and paper bags a year ago and that ordinance goes into effect March 1.
Austin Zero Waste Alliance Chair Stacy Guidry says it'll take a while for customers to 
get used to the change.
get used to the change. "This is not just affecting grocery stores. This is affecting stores like Home Depot, Target and Walmart and your local salon down the road.
She says an estimated $1 million are spent on cleaning up the disposable bags.
"Taking them out of trees and bushes, unclogging storm drains, keeping them out of water and wastewater infrastructure," said Guidry.
The Texas Retailers Association is suing the city of Austin over the bag ban. The suit claims it will hurt businesses financially.
City officials have been educating the public about the ordinance for months and they've given away about a million reusable cloth bags.
"It's a big, big change," said Guidry.
photos: austineconetwork.com;
