ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Starting Wednesday, paper bags are ‘no more’ at Walmart stores across New York State. Customers there will instead need to bring a reusable bag to shop with.
The change, now taking effect in a handful of other states as well, is said to be part of the company’s zero-waste goal by 2025.
The move by Walmart comes just over two years after free plastic bags were banned at stores across New York.
So, what does this mean for the consumer’s future? Neha Sood, assistant director of campus sustainability at RIT, weighed in.
“I think it was inevitable it would happen at some point. There’s no time like right now to eliminate single-use bags. I do think with a company like Walmart making such a big shift, others will look to them to see what they’ve learned. What were some successes, some failures? And then, use that data to evaluate the possibility of adapting similar single-use item bans in their own stores.”
Through Sood’s own research, she says Walmart is among the first retailers to work toward a zero-waste policy within a few years’ time.
The decision, she says, will make waves in reducing the carbon footprint.
“The impact from a carbon footprint is greater for paper bags than it was for plastic bags. They’re heavier and they take more carbon to produce, ship, transport and also throw away,” said Sood.
The ban is not yet applied nationwide to Walmart stores, and only includes a few other states who have followed suit.
“I think reusable solutions are only good as long as we use them appropriately, and I think Walmart seems to have found a way to do that. For a lot of people after months or a year, that becomes a habit, and once we create that good habit, that lasts for us wherever and anywhere we go,” said Sood.
It’s a transition, Sood says, that may be difficult now but will come with reward in the long run.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Wegmans tells News 8 the company does not have any plans to eliminate paper bags from New York stores.
FAQs
In New York City, businesses are required to collect a non-taxable 5-cent fee from customers on paper carryout bags, with some exceptions. You can avoid paying the paper bag fee by bringing your own reusable bags to stores. Stores are required to allow the use of reusable shopping bags.
Why did grocery stores stop using paper bags? ›
Plastic bags entered supermarkets and retail chains during the 1970s and 1980s. Before then, customers used paper bags to bring groceries and other merchandise back home from stores. Retailers switched to plastic bags because they were cheaper. Americans use roughly 100 billion plastic bags every year.
How many states have banned plastic bags? ›
In total, there are more than 500 citywide ordinances banning plastic bags in the U.S., as well as 12 statewide bans — in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
What is the bag fee on Walmart grocery pickup? ›
For pickup orders, we'll use paper bags, and customers can choose to opt-in/out with no fee at checkout. Delivery orders will be received in paper bags with a $0.10 fee per bag. There won't be any changes for in-store shopping, as our stores can still use plastic bags for in-store shopping.
What is the paper bag fee in NY? ›
The five-cent fee applies to each paper carryout bag provided to a customer by a sales tax vendor of tangible personal property, even if the vendor does not sell any tangible personal property or a service to the customer, and regardless of whether the tangible personal property or service sold is exempt from sales tax ...
Do you have to pay for a paper bag? ›
Types of bags that do not have to be charged for include, bags intended for re-use, such as “bags- for-life” and certain small plastic or paper bags without handles. There are a number of types of items that bags used solely to carry them do not need to be charged for.
Why are we switching to paper bags? ›
Environmentally Friendly
Due to its biodegradable nature, paper is highly eco-friendly. Making your business more eco-conscious is one of the main advantages of using eco-friendly paper bags instead of single-use plastic bags. Not only does this help save the planet, but it's also crucial to grow your customer base.
Why are we going back to paper bags? ›
We often think of paper bags as a better alternative for the environment, and no doubt, there are some benefits. They are biodegradable. They don't threaten marine animals if they end up in our oceans. They are easier to recycle than plastic bags.
What is the problem with paper bags? ›
Cons of Using Paper Bags
- Not waterproof. So in the rain they become less reliable.
- More expensive than using plastic bags.
- Paper bags take up more storage space than plastic bags.
- Considerably heavier than plastic bags.
In 2008, Rwanda became the world's first 'plastic-free' nation, 10 years after it introduced a ban on all plastic bags and plastic packaging. Unlike many other countries, the African nation is strict at enforcing its ban. Anyone caught with a plastic item in the country faces a jail sentence of up to six months.
Plastics bags not banned from 1 June include: thicker plastic bags over 35 microns (such as bags at some supermarkets and boutique stores) barrier bags such as produce and deli bags, bin liners, compost caddy liners, nappy bags and pet-waste bags.
How long does it take for plastic to decompose? ›
Plastic waste can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, and even then, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller. Consider this figure: 8,3 billion tonnes is the total amount of plastic ever made, half of which has been produced in the last 13 years.
Do Walmart drivers see how much you tip? ›
Before drivers accept an order, the app shows both their base pay and the customer's offered tip. But that tip can change over the course of 24 hours. For example, a $15 or $20 tip at the time of pickup can dwindle to just $5 or $10 when the transaction finally clears, a North Carolina Spark driver told BI.
When did Walmart start charging for pickup? ›
Walmart's Collect Pickup Program was announced in early July of 2022 and put into place a month later on August 1st, and the fees were sent out a month after that on September 1st.
Is Walmart free delivery over $35? ›
Delivery beyond your door
Get your order delivered to your kitchen, garage or doorstep—wherever you want it! Tips are included, plus no delivery fees* & no item markups. *$35 order min. Restriction apply.
What is the bag law in New York State? ›
The legal status of bats varies from state to state. In New York, two species, the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat, are protected. However, the conservation of all bats is encouraged.
What is the bag policy in New York State? ›
New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act
The law took effect March 1, 2020 and prohibits the distribution of plastic carryout bags by any person required to collect New York State sales tax.
Who gets the 5 cents for paper bags in NY? ›
Part of the legislation allowed cities, towns and counties to charge an additional 5 cents for each paper bag used at grocery stores. Under the law, the state keep 60 cents of every $1 collected from the paper bag fee and the local government gets 40 percent. The money is restricted in its use.
Why are paper bags not used? ›
However, paper is very resource-heavy to produce: Manufacturing a paper bag takes about four times as much energy as it takes to produce a plastic bag, plus the chemicals and fertilizers used in producing paper bags create additional harm to the environment.
