EUGENE, Ore. - A Eugene-based grocery chain will stop offering plastic bags at the checkout stand when its current supply runs out in a few weeks.

Market of Choice has stores in Eugene, Ashland, Portland and West Linn.

The stores will limit access to plastic bags in the produce and meat departments.

Company officials said it was time to make a change after San Francisco banned plastic bags and Seattle announced plans to impose a 20-cent fee for each paper and plastic bag at grocery and drug stores.

Market of Choice is not the only grocery chain eliminating plastic. Whole Foods ditched plastic earlier this year at all 270 stores in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.

Plastic bags are made from oil and are not biodegradeable.