QUINCY, Mass., July 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stop & Shop announced today that beginning August 1, 2019, it will eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkout from all store locations in the state of Connecticut. To assist customers in the transition away from single-use plastic bags and help them get in the habit of going reusable, Stop & Shop will give a free reusable bag to all customers who bring in one or more single-use plastic bags to their local store for recycling, with a limit of one per customer per visit while supplies last. In addition, Stop & Shop will offer paper bags for free during the month of August at all stores where local laws permit, with a 10-cent fee on paper bags beginning on September 3, 2019.
“We know that the environmental impact of plastics is something our customers and communities care about here in Connecticut, so we’re eliminating single-use plastic bags well ahead of the state mandated timeline – and we’re also placing a 10-cent fee on paper bags to encourage our customers to make the switch to reusable,” said Rudy DiPietro, SVP of Operations, Stop & Shop. “We also appreciate the fact that it’s going to take our customers time to make this adjustment, so we’re waiving the fee on paper throughout the month of August at most stores, offering reusable bag giveaways, and doing everything we can to help make the transition an easy one.”
Beginning August 1st, Stop & Shop will offer a free reusable bag, while supplies last, to all customers at its 91 stores across the state of Connecticut who bring in one or more single-use plastic bags for recycling, with a limit of one per customer per visit. The plastic bags collected will be recycled into composite wood, which is used for things like decking, park benches, and playground equipment. Local stores also offer a variety of reusable bags for purchase including Stop & Shop Community Bags, which make it easy for shoppers to give back to the community. Each time a customer purchases the $2.50 reusable bag, $1 will be donated to a Connecticut non-profit of their choice.
Committed to reducing its environmental footprint in the communities it serves, Stop & Shop recycled more than 360 million pounds of material including plastics and cardboard in 2018 - diverting approximately 74% of the company’s waste from going to landfills. To learn more about Stop & Shop's sustainability efforts and commitment to the community, visit https://stopandshop.com/community/.
About Stop & Shop
A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, today’s Stop & Shop is refreshed, reenergized and inspired, delivering new conveniences for customers. Committed to helping its communities enjoy better food and better lives, Stop & Shop has a longstanding history of giving back to the neighborhoods it serves with a focus on fighting hunger and helping children to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs nearly 60,000 associates and operates over 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.