Supermarket chains in the province of Buenos Aires are barred from handing out plastic bags and must give their customers biodegradable bags instead as of today, as part of an environmental-friendly law passed by the provincial legislature last year.

The law gave a 12-month term for businesses to take the necessary steps to adjust to the new regulation and start offering degradable bags for. The initiative was the result of problems in the disposal in the province to dispose garbage.

Many trash pits in the province have been shut down due to environmental concerns, and residents have resisted the construction of new ones. The provincial Daniel Scioli administration has meanwhile refused to accept garbage from other districts, rejecting a garbage deal with the city of Buenos Aires.

Smaller markets would have another year to adjust to the legislation. The regulation would allow the use of plastic bags for refrigerated foods and processed products.

Fines would range from 10 to 1000 basic salaries of the employees of each supermarket. The law also states that those supermarkets that fail to meet the regulations could have their bags seized.