Enforcement begins today on the no single-use plastic bag rule in New York state.

The single-use plastic bag ban went into effect in March, but enforcement had been on hold because of a lawsuit.

Now the court has spoken and today enforcement begins. Starting today anyone who is required to collect tax cannot distribute any plastic carry-out bags to their customers.

Some bodega and convenience store owners have said this would cause hardships for them, but in the words of the Department of Environmental Conservation, it’s time to “BYO Bag NY.”

The department says New Yorkers use about 23 billion plastic bags a year and the majority, about 85%, end up in landfills, recycling machines, bodies of water and the street.

Violators could face fines of between $250 and $500.