ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Add Goodwill to the companies or organizations trying to get ahead of the deadline for eliminating single-use plastic bags at grocers and similar venues.
Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will remove the single-use bags from all of its Rochester and Syracuse area stores on Saturday, February 1. That’s a month ahead of the state-imposed ban which takes effect March 1.
Goodwill shoppers are encouraged to bring reusable shopping bags or they can buy bags made from recycled materials that Goodwill will have available for 99-cents.
The President of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Jennifer Lake, says that eliminated the plastic bags goes hand-in-hand with Goodwill’s commitment to sustainability. She says that the organization will not offer paper bags, due to the negative environmental impact in transportation of those bags, their lack of biodegradability and the chemicals used in their manufacture.
Wegmans announced this week that it will stop offering the single-use plastic bags at the checkouts as of January 27. Paper bags will be available for 5-cents, but the chain is encouraging shoppers to use reusable bags.