The Jersey City City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that stops stores from using plastic bags.

The new ordinance specifically says the idea is to keep plastic out of the waterways and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Stores will now have to provide paper or reusable canvas bags or face fines. Many Jersey City residents say that they are in favor of the measure.

“I am very upset having a plastic bag in the trees after a breeze or having them in the gutters clogging up the drains,” says one resident.

“It doesn’t decompose. It doesn’t recycle itself and we have no use for it after someone packages food to go,” says Jersey City resident Katya Valevich.

Jersey City now joins a growing list of New Jersey towns that have banned plastic bags, including Point Pleasant Beach and Teaneck.

Stores have about a year to switch over to paper bags or offer reusable canvas bags. Stores that continue to use plastic bags face a $100 fine for each offense.

There is currently a bill working its way through the state Legislature that would require customers to pay 5 cents for a plastic bag if they wish to use them.