Starting Jan 18, 2023, Walmart expanded its single-use bag ban to an additional 111 stores. According to CNN, Americans use closer to 100 billion plastic bags. In July 2020, Walmart announced an eco-conscious initiative to “reinvent the plastic bag” that will phase out single-use carryout bags across nation. Single-Use carryout bags are the ones made of plastic or paper that are not reusable. To ease the transition, the company plans to sell reusable bags at the counter. Customers can also bring their own bags or purchase them for a price.
Beginning January 1, 2023, Walmart Stores in Colorado no longer provides single-use plastic bags or paper bags at checkout, pickup or delivery. This announcement came in mandate with the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act signed into law in 2021.
Many States have already banned single-use plastic bags beginning with California in 2016, Vermont and Maine in 2021. Other States that have joined the pack are New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, New York, and Oregon. Colorado is the latest addition to the group.
Kroger Co. has plans to phase out single-use bags by 2025. Companies including Costco, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s have stopped using plastic bags are worthy to be noted.
