CHICOPEE, Mass. - City councilors are looking into a motion to ban the use of plastic bags at checkouts for places like retail stores and restaurants in Chicopee.

The action while not new came after resident complaints about trash littered across the city.

Fruit Fair Owner Sam Newell says the grocery store made the move away from single use plastic bags years ago.

"So now what we use is 125 times reusable plastic bags," said Fruit Fair Owner Sam Newell. "So it's thick, it's above a certain micron so it doesn't hurt the environment as much as the single use plastic bags."

Newell said their decision didn't come without some backlash from customers.

But some like Chicopee’s Cheryl Ratchford have made the transition by bringing her own reusable bags.

"Well a lot of places just don't use plastic anymore and I would kind of prefer to use them," said Ratchford. "I think its good to be able to reuse bags and try to cut down on some of the awful waste that's out there."

Ratchford says she wouldn't mind if the motion passes.

"Littering and the oceans and just everywhere, really," Ratchford said. "I think if you can do it, I think it's a good choice."

City Councilor Sam Shumsky told Spectrum News 1 residents have focused on the trash around Chicopee Marketplace, complaining waste there is being spread to neighboring streets.

Newell said while she agrees it would be a good for the city to dispose of plastic bags. Some flexibility on plastic should be in place because paper bags are not always the most secure.

"Like, what's the point if you're gonna waste $50 of food or $50, $60 of liquor because it just fell and broke because the bottom gave out?" Newell said. "So plastic bags are not a solution, but definitely encourage more reusable bags and bags that people bring from home."

Shumsky says the plastic bags motion is with the ordinance subcommittee and a decision on it will likely be made later this month. If approved, a plastic bag ban could start for some larger businesses as early as October.