Connecticut shoppers will no longer be allowed to buy single-use plastic bags as of July 1, as the second phase of a state law banning those bags takes effect.
Since the law passed, the state has eliminated almost 500 million plastic shopping bags, said Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association.
“Those things were ending up in waterways, water tables, trees, power lines -- you name it,” Pesce said.
Pesce says more and more customers are already shopping with their own reusable bags.
“Prior to the law, about less than 10% of consumers in Connecticut brought their own bag,” he said. “Since the inception of the law, 90% of consumers today bring their own bag.”
With more shoppers using reusable bags, Pesce hopes the change in the law won’t cause any great uproar.
“It’s a good law, it’s working, people are used to it today. I don’t see the July 1 ban on plastics having any disruption,” he said.
Though plastic bags will no longer be available, consumers can still use produce bags and buy paper bags for 10 cents apiece.
