With the statewide plastic bag ban taking effect Sunday, shoppers heading to stores were responsible for bringing their own reusable bags or subjected to the new 5-cent fee for paper bags.

The ban, however, is already facing controversy, as some residents feel that the city should hand out reusable bags for free.

Some feel the city should hand out reusable bags to convenience stores, so owners can offer them to their customers. They also feel churches, senior centers and schools should be included in their distribution.

Both business owners and customers agree that banning plastic bags is a positive move, but they also feel they will need more education to properly enforce the new law.

They want the city to know that low-income communities need assistance when it comes to reusable bags so that everyone is educated and has the means to fulfill the needs they have when they buy groceries.