After a two-week delay to huddle with the county attorney and revise the wording to ease enforcement, the Kaua'i County Council yesterday passed an ordinance that will outlaw single-use plastic checkout bags from the island's retail establishments, the Garden Island newspaper reported.

The council passed the ban over objections from the Kaua'i business community.

"I feel very pleased that Kaua'i has made a statement in support of the environment," said Councilman Tim Bynum, who co-introduced the legislation.

The council approved the measure in a 4-2 vote and received a round of applause from many people in attendance.

The bill, expected to be signed into law by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., will go into effect on Jan. 11, 2011 — the same day a similar ban will take effect on Maui. A revised implementation date was one of several changes recommended by Kaua'i County Deputy County Attorney Mike Dahilig and adopted by the council.