AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market plans to completely phase out plastic grocery bags across the company by late April.

The retail giant's 270 stores in the U.S., Canada and U.K. will instead encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags. By Earth Day, or April 22, all plastic bags will be eliminated. Paper bags made from recycled fiber content will still be used.

"More and more cities and countries are beginning to place serious restrictions on single-use plastic shopping bags since they don't break down in our landfills, can harm nature by clogging waterways and endangering wildlife, and litter our roadsides," said Whole Foods Market's CEO A.C. Gallo.

The retailer will continue handing out a nickel or dime refund to shoppers whom bring their own bags, as well as sell 99 cent reusable versions.

Whole Foods first tested the program in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin. San Francisco recently banned the use of plastic shopping bags, while China made a surprise attack on their use and production.