A NEW cost would possibly hit clients if a proposed ordinance is handed and buyers are up in arms.
An ordinance in Athens, Ohio is hoping to scale back single-use plastic baggage within the metropolis.
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It was proposed at a current Athens Metropolis Council assembly on Monday by council member, Alan Swank.
It’s the newest of a number of ordinances addressing town’s use of plastic since 2016.
If handed, no retailer will be capable of present single-use plastic baggage to clients after August 1.
They may also not be capable of cost for baggage except they’re itemized on a buyer’s receipt.
In line with the rule, clients can carry their very own baggage to the shop.
A fantastic for offering single-use plastic baggage will probably be not more than $100 with a separate violation for every time the shop is not complying with the ordinance.
Swank mentioned the deadline was pushed to August 1 so shops, equivalent to Kroger, could have the time to change.
The deadline additionally coincides with the arrival of Ohio College college students.
“It’s simpler to make a transition throughout your downtime, when you may have simply two clients, slightly than when you may have 20,” mentioned Swank.
Milena Miller, with Athens ReThink Plastics, mentioned that many companies are keen to make the change.
Kroger has a historical past of banning single-use plastic baggage earlier than, equivalent to a retailer in Virginia final 12 months.
The grocery chain has mentioned it has got down to eradicate all plastic baggage totally by 2025.
Again in 2018, the corporate introduced its plans to section out single-use plastic baggage at its 2,779 shops and managed to scale back plastic baggage in all QFC shops in April 2019.
The corporate additionally donated $1 to The Nature Conservancy for every reusable bag bought in shops that month.
Kroger has partnered with different shops like Walmart and Goal for the Past the Bag initiative, which challenges buyers to discover reusable choices and “reimagine” plastic baggage.
The shop’s try to be extra environmentally pleasant has been adopted by different shops like Wegmans and Walmart.
Wegmans mentioned in shops the place it instituted a plastic bag ban, paper baggage are used on round 25 % of transactions with the remainder of gross sales being by reusable baggage or no bag.
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