One Major Grocery Store Getting Rid of Plastic Bags…Again

Well, get ready to say good-bye to single use plastic bags again.  At least, at one major grocery store in the area.

I know it seems like forever ago, but it really hasn’t been that long since New York put a ban on plastic bags.   Then of course COVID19 hit and reusable bags just seemed to be a thing of the past, particularly to avoid spreading germs.  I actually remember watching one person get turned away from a cash register at a grocery store because they had a reusable bag which the store had temporarily banned.

Well now?  Looks like the pendulum is swinging back the other way.  Come August 1st, Price Choppers are no longer offering single use plastic bags.  The chain reportedly made an announcement that reusable bags are now encouraged at Price Chopper and Market 32 stores.  Paper bags without handles are an extra 5 cents, and with handles are 15 cents (don’t even get me started on the fact that handles are  an extra 10 cents a bag).

There is mention in the statement that clean reusable bags do not transmit COVID19 and keeping bags clean is a personal responsibility. Also they note that while getting rid of plastic is not mandatory right now, the stores are working to reduce waste now before it is again mandated.  What do you think?