Walmarts Across Maine Goes Bagless as State Declares Plastic Ban

Beginning July 1, all Maine Walmart stores will no longer use plastic bags.

Main Drops Single Use Plastic Bags

The state's Walmart has established a goal to become a zero-waste corporation, which means no more plastic bags.

For pickup and in-store purchasing, Walmart consumers will need to provide their own reusable bags and containers.

"With the impending prohibition, Walmart is going bagless in all of its Maine locations on July 1. This decision underscores Walmart's commitment to promoting sustainable initiatives that benefit people and the environment, as well as its continued efforts to achieve zero emissions in its worldwide operations by 2040, according to a Walmart representative.

Maine's Plastic Ban

On July 1, the state's plastic bag ban goes into force. The law was set to take effect in April 2020. However, it was postponed because of the epidemic.

The regulation aims to reduce plastic pollution by encouraging buyers to bring their own bags.

According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, once the rule takes effect, all carry-out bags given or made accessible by merchants must be either reusable or recycled paper bags.

Related Article: Waste-To-Energy: Is This America's Best Tool To Combat Both Climate and Energy Crisis?

Businesses Making a Move

Retail businesses must also charge a minimum of $5 per carry-out bag for recyclable paper bags and recyclable plastic bags.

Consumers usually take the plastic bags waiting for customers at the checkout unless you've been carrying reusable shopping bags to the store. Unfortunately, you're not alone; in the United States, around 100 billion plastic bags are used each year.

Unfortunately, once the trip to the grocery shop is complete, single-use plastic bags can leave major adverse environmental effects. Only around ten percent of plastic bags used in the United States are recycled, leaving the remainder to contaminate soil, seas, and other natural areas.

Major Corporations

Major corporations are making attempts to reduce the usage of plastic shopping bags to tackle pollution and other environmental challenges. So, if you shop at Walmart frequently, don't be shocked if the plastic bags start to disappear in the coming months. The business revealed its intention to become a zero-waste company last summer, which means no more plastic bags.

Walmart has launched a collaboration with Beyond the Bag, which seeks to "reimagine" the plastic bag by exploring reusable alternatives. Beyond the bag also has Target and CVS as initial partners, and the three companies have already invested $15 million in developing a revolutionary bag design.

#BeyondtheBag

The #BeyondtheBag challenge was also created as part of the program, offering innovators the opportunity to contribute their ideas. The competition ran over the summer of 2020, and nine winners were chosen from over 450 entries. The winning ideas span a wide range of topics, from an in-store kiosk dispensing reusable bags to a new and better paper bag. With the initiative's support, each product now gets the opportunity to be evaluated.

Permanent Substitute

While Walmart has yet to settle on a permanent substitute for plastic bags, a more sustainable future is on the horizon. Check out our list of reusable bags to carry on your next supermarket trip if you want to start lowering your usage of plastic bags right away. This is the simplest way to recycle plastic bags leftover from prior journeys.

Also Read: How to Live Sustainably Today? Just 5 Ways!

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