So happy about this & can't wait for all of the stores to follow!

From today's KGW news article:

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Beginning August 1, plastic bags will no longer be an option at Fred Meyer stores in the Portland Metro area.

Fred Meyer spokeswoman Melinda Merrill said paper bags will still be available, but they will no longer have plastic bags as of August. She said the 10 stores in the Portland market were a test group as the retailer prepares for the possibility of eliminating plastic bags at all of its stores.

More: See complete list of Fred Meyer "test group" stores

Merrill said that once Fred Meyer stores scrap the plastic bags, customers would be urged to email comments and suggestions to Fred Meyer.

"We're looking for customer feedback, because we just need to prepare ourselves and make sure the stores are running efficiently and smoothly," Merrill said.

Fred Meyer already got rid of plastic bags at its store at SE 39th & Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland last year while the building was being renovated. Merrill said feedback about the bag ban there has been mostly positive.

Earlier this month, Portland Mayor Sam Adams introduced a draft ordinance that calls for a citywide ban on plastic bags by January 2012. The ordinance would not only ban single-use plastic bags from some stores, it would also require stores to charge five cents for paper bags.

"Many cities are already doing this," Merrill said. "Whether you think banning plastic bags or charging for bags is right or wrong, it's inevitable."