A bag dispensing system, comprising: a bag dispenser configured to dispense a single bag at a time from a stack of empty bags; an actuator configured to activate said bag dispenser to dispense the single bag; an electronic cash register at a checkout station; CHARACTERIZED BY: said cash register having a controller coupled to said actuator of said bag dispenser, said controller being arranged to send an enable or disable signal to said actuator, to permit or prevent the activation of the bag dispenser and, thus, permit or prevent dispensing of a bag; said controller being programmed to calculate a number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer, for packing goods purchased by said customer; and a communication network for two-way communication between said actuator and said controller, whereby a number of bags dispensed is monitored and controlled; wherein said controller is configured for sending said enable signal to said actuator to permit said bag dispenser to dispense said calculated number of empty bags, and said actuator is arranged to send a signal to said controller each time a bag is dispensed to count a number of bags that have been dispensed; and said controller is configured to send said disable signal to said actuator to prevent said bag dispenser from dispensing bags, when said calculated number of bags has been dispensed. a bag dispenser configured to dispense a single bag at a time from a stack of empty bags; an actuator configured to activate said bag dispenser to dispense the single bag; an electronic cash register at a checkout station; CHARACTERIZED BY: said cash register having a controller coupled to said actuator of said bag dispenser, said controller being arranged to send an enable or disable signal to said actuator, to permit or prevent the activation of the bag dispenser and, thus, permit or prevent dispensing of a bag; said controller being programmed to calculate a number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer, for packing goods purchased by said customer; and a communication network for two-way communication between said actuator and said controller, whereby a number of bags dispensed is monitored and controlled; wherein said controller is configured for sending said enable signal to said actuator to permit said bag dispenser to dispense said calculated number of empty bags, and said actuator is arranged to send a signal to said controller each time a bag is dispensed to count a number of bags that have been dispensed; and said controller is configured to send said disable signal to said actuator to prevent said bag dispenser from dispensing bags, when said calculated number of bags has been dispensed. said cash register having a controller coupled to said actuator of said bag dispenser, said controller being arranged to send an enable or disable signal to said actuator, to permit or prevent the activation of the bag dispenser and, thus, permit or prevent dispensing of a bag; said controller being programmed to calculate a number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer, for packing goods purchased by said customer; and a communication network for two-way communication between said actuator and said controller, whereby a number of bags dispensed is monitored and controlled; wherein said controller is configured for sending said enable signal to said actuator to permit said bag dispenser to dispense said calculated number of empty bags, and said actuator is arranged to send a signal to said controller each time a bag is dispensed to count a number of bags that have been dispensed; and said controller is configured to send said disable signal to said actuator to prevent said bag dispenser from dispensing bags, when said calculated number of bags has been dispensed.