Mexico City going green: Law prohibiting plastic bags in effect

As of today, Mexico City supermarkets will no longer be allowed to give away plastic bags. 

The law, proposed in 2009, took effect last night at midnight.  The Mexican plastics industry had been lobbying for ammendments to the law since last March, but none of them were passed.

Penalities for giving away non-biodegradable bags include jail time and heavy fines (up to $118,000 USD).  It remains to be seen how strictly this new law will be enforced.