Wal-Mart Charges For Bags in California

By Amanda Pendolino on January 12th, 2010

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Wal-Mart is going green – and making some green of their own in the process. According to The Sacramento Bee, stores in Citrus Heights, Folsom and Ukiah (all in Northern California) have stopped offering free shopping bags. They’ve gotten rid of the old, flimsy plastic numbers altogether, and are offering royal blue and lightweight polypropylene fabric bags for 15 cents. A larger model sells for 50 cents. All are washable.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. launched an experiment in October at the three stores to ease customers into the BYOB habit as the huge retailer attempts to reduce its global waste a third by 2013. First, the stores posted signs encouraging customers to provide their own bags and also began selling reusable bags. The company also taught cashiers how to get more into each bag and looked into thinner bags using less plastic as alternatives.

The store discontinued free bags altogether Saturday at the three stores in Northern California, which were chosen because the customers in those communities had already signaled an interest in environmental issues, said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amelia Neufeld.

Beginning Friday, the reusable bags will be on sale at another 52 stores throughout NoCal. The chain isn’t sure it will try the BYOB policy across the country; it will depend on how well the idea goes over with customers at the first three stores.

Sometimes when going green also saves money, we all win.