One of the items passed in Connecticut's state budget was a 10-cent surcharge for single-use plastic bags. In response, both Stop & Shop and Big Y supermarkets will be eliminating the bags starting Thursday (August 1.)

Stop & Shop announced this morning that they will provide free paper bags for the month of August, and charge 10 cents per paper bag starting September 3. They will also offer a free reusable bag to customers that exchange their existing plastic bags while supplies last.

Stop & Shop's Senior VP of Operations, Rudy DiPietro, told the Courant,

We know that the environmental impact of plastics is something our customers and communities care about here in Connecticut, so we’re eliminating single-use plastic bags well ahead of the state mandated timeline — and we’re also placing a 10-cent fee on paper bags to encourage our customers to make the switch to reusable.

Big Y is also eliminating plastic bags, and will charge 10 cents per paper bag. The supermarket is also offering discounted reusable bags in August.

 

More From The Wolf