Bend has joined Salem and several other cities in Oregon banning plastic bags. The Bend City Council voted 4 to 2 to ban plastic bags beginning July first. Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene and Portland already have bag bans, and Salem’s ban will take effect next year. Bend’s ban only applies to plastic grocery bags. The ban doesn’t include bulk goods including fruit, nuts and screws, for wrapping meat, fish, flowers or potted plants, and for holding bakery items or pharmacy prescriptions. It won’t affect plastic bags used for prepared takeout food or bags provided by vendors at temporary events such as farmers markets.