It's time to start saving grocery bags or buying reusable ones. Warren's ban on plastic disposable grocery bags starts at the beginning of December.

In June, the Warren Town Council passed its Reusable Carryout Bag Initiative, a measure similar to ones passed in nearby towns including Barrington and Bristol. Under the new ordinance, it is no longer permissible for retail establishments to distribute single-use plastic bags at checkout. There are exclusions from the ordinance, including plastic barrier bags commonly used with fruits, vegetables, fish and meats, double-opening bags (commonly used to protect clothing), and plastic bags measuring larger than 28 inches by 36 inches. Businesses that violate the ordinance can face fines of up to $300 for repeated violations.

The ordinance further requires that businesses provide plastic barrier bags or double opening plastic bags, they must provide a recycling opportunity on the premises and must recycle any plastic collected.

Bob Rulli, Warren's Director of Planning and Community Development, said Monday that the aim of the ordinance is to improve the environment by reducing the number of plastic bags being used in the town — a ubiquitous item of litter found in every corner of Warren.

"This is also a type of litter that does not decompose within generational timespans, taking an estimated 1,000 years to fully decompose," he wrote in an e-mail to the Times. "It is hoped that this ordinance will encourage the use of reusable carryout bags."

Seven other towns in Rhode Island and 81 towns in Massachusetts, including Boston, have enacted similar ordinances.