The City Council of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States, voted 36-10 on Wednesday to ban plastic bags in most stores in the city starting from August 2015. The ban will apply only to chain stores, namely a group of three or more that have the same owner, or franchise stores of more than 10,000 square feet at the initial stage. Smaller chain stores and franchises will be required to observe the ban a year later, Chicago Tribune reported. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel supported the effort, saying it was in line with the city's efforts to improve the environment. But opponents argued that the ban, first proposed seven years ago, will adversely affect all the people and the businesses in Chicago and thus harm the local economy.