5 months ago
FOLSOM, CA -- Some local Walmart stores are phasing out plastic bags and charging for reusable bags starting this month. It's a test program Walmart is doing at several stores in California, including at least one in the Sacramento area in Folsom.
Walmart spokeswoman Amelia Neufeld would not say how many stores in California are participating, just that there are "several."
She says the stores' customers know, and that Walmart doesn't want to "compromise the integrity of the test" by revealing such information.
The test will gauge whether or not customers will go for the new policy, which means that you must either bring your own bags or buy Walmart's reusable ones. They range in price from 15 cents to $2 per bag.
Walmart is trying to reduce its plastic bag consumption by one-third through 2013. Mark Murray of Californians Against Waste, applauded the move.
"The single-use plastic bag does have significant harm to the environment. It does impact water quality and wildlife, and it's one of those needless types of products that we can do away with," said Murray. "If Walmart follows through and this pilot program is successful and their consumer response is positive, it's going to make a huge impact."
Neufeld said the participating stores still have free one-time use plastic bags on hand, but she wouldn't say for how long they'll be available. She said it's an evolving process.
There are signs up in the test stores advertising the new policies, and employees have been talking to customers to let them know the new rules.
While Walmart says it's been getting positive feedback from customers, the American Chemistry Council isn't so pleased.
"From our standpoint, we think that consumers ought to have a choice. If they think reusable bags make sense for them, great, but they shouldn't feel guilty about using a plastic bag because it's fully recyclable," said Tim Shestek. "A lot of folks use those bags at home once they bring their groceries home for dog waste or lining trash cans."
The test program will run through 2010.
News10 Good Morning received several e-mails about this subject.
Viewer Alice Moore wrote: "I haven't used store bags paper or plastic in ages. When I was in France you always took your bags to the store and as late as 1969 when in Africa, I also took my own bags to the store. We're just late with this concept here in the U.S. But CA is better than in many states."
Viewer Michelle Williams wrote: "I love the idea! Save the world 4 our children!"
Viewer Eileen Boyd wrote: "OK enough is enough. Those of us that live on a fixed income can't take it anymore. OUr income has been cut by the state social security and food prices have gone up and now they want us to buy bags to take what little food we can buy to live."
by Anne Makovec, amakovec@news10.net
News10/KXTV
