The ban would need to be approved by the Las Cruces City Council through an ordinance.
Elements of a draft ordinance exist, and the proposed measure would affect places such as gas stations, grocery stores, department stores, home goods stores, hardware stores and pharmacies. The only proposed exceptions so far are food banks, restaurants and take-out food establishments.
The city is concerned microplastics bioaccumulate through animal food chains and eventually end up in people's bodies. Councilors expressed concern bags litter nature parks and city streets and a ban would reduce waste in landfills.
The city convened a committee, which included the city's Keep Las Cruces Beautiful group, the South Central Solid Waste Authority, local chambers of commerce, local retailers, Las Cruces Public Schools, the New Mexico Restaurant Association and others, in 2019 to draft the potential ordinance.