The ubiquitous plastic bag lines our garbage pails, holds our lunches, carries wet swimming suits from the beach and shoes for packing in luggage. It works for picking up after Fido or cleaning out the litter box.

It does a pretty good job of carrying groceries, too.

But it’s also an environmental albatross, a major source of litter that is filling up landfills and threatening wildlife and marine species.

Starting July 1, Oahu will join the growing list of places that have banned the plastic checkout bag. Businesses will be prohibited from giving out plastic bags and nonrecyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for carrying groceries or other merchandise.

The city Department of Environmental Services has posted the rules on its website and is preparing to notify about 15,000 retailers, asking them how they plan to comply.

"This is another step in reducing the impact of litter on our island environment and to protecting the birds and aquatic life that are an integral part of both the quality of life and of the environment that we find important," said Tim Houghton, the department’s deputy director.

First approved by the Hono­lulu City Council three years ago and signed into law by then-Mayor Peter Carlisle, the law was unanimously amended and then signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell last year, striking biodegradable bags from the list of take-home totes that storeswould have been able to distribute at checkout.

Acceptable bags include compostable plastic bags, recyclable paper bags that contain a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content, and "reusable bags," which have handles and may be made of either cloth or other washable fabric or some other durable material suitable for reuse, including plastic that is at least 2.25 mils thick. (A mil is one-thousandth of an inch.)

Nearly 200 U.S. municipalities have imposed bans on plastic bags, and a few months ago Cali­for­nia became the first state to approve a statewide prohibition, although opponents say they have enough signatures to overturn the ban at the ballot box.

Technically, Hawaii beat the Golden State to the punch because Hono­lulu officially becomes the last county in Hawaii to establish a plastic bag ban, which effectively makes them illegal everywhere in the state.

"It’s great," said Stuart Coleman, Hawaiian Islands manager with the Surfrider Foundation. "On our monthly beach cleanups, (plastic bags) are one of the most littered items we find. This is really a win-win situation for the environment, especially for citizens who hate to see these toxic tumbleweeds blowing everywhere."

Not everyone is happy.

"We oppose it," said Sheri Saka­moto, president of the Hono­lulu-based Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Saka­moto said her membership continues to discuss the issue and is hoping some kind of compromise still can be worked out before the "burdensome" law adds to the cost of doing business and results in higher prices to consumers.

"We’ll definitely try to fight it to the very end," she said.

But Adrian Hong, president of Island Plastic Bags, Oahu’s only plastic bag manufacturer, said he doesn’t believe there’s enough momentum for a fight now, considering the issue has already been hashed out during two rounds of city hearings.

Plastic grocery bags represent only a small part of Hong’s business. Most of it comes from manufacturing bags for institutions, including trash liners, biohazard bags and more. But Hong concedes the law does create new business opportunities for him.

Most retailers are now using up their current stock of plastic bags, Hong said. In the meantime, he said, they are looking at alternatives and getting quotes from suppliers.

While the plastic bags that most retailers currently use cost only about 2 cents to make, each of the choices available to business under the new law will cost between 10 and 14 cents.

"It’s a big impact, a significant jump," Hong said.

Houghton of the Environmental Services Department said the city has generally received positive feedback so far.

"Fortunately, the law is self-explanatory and clearly defines what is and is not acceptable and what the exceptions are," he said.

Under the law, bags to protect or transport prepared foods, beverages or bakery goods, including takeout bags used at restaurants, fast-food restaurants and lunch wagons, are acceptable.

Also acceptable are plastic bags used to package loose items such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, candy, or small hardware items; and for frozen foods, meat or fish, flowers or plants, medications, newspaper, laundry and pet items.

Additional information on the Oahu ban can be found at the Environmental Services Department website at opala.org.