Wegmans eliminating plastic bags companywide

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – Wegmans announced Thursday that it will be eliminating plastic bags companywide by the end of the year.

The grocery chain had already stopped using plastic bags ahead of New York’s statewide ban that took effect in March of 2020. Wegmans has since eliminated plastic bags in 61 stores, including Virginia and certain locations in Massachusetts and Maryland.

Wegmans says in stores without plastic, paper bags are used by about 20-25% of customers with reusable bags making up the other 75-80%.

Customers are charged 5 cents per paper bag, and Wegmans says that money is donated to local food banks and the United Way.