Walmart shoppers in some states will see an additional charge on their bill if they choose to use the retailer’s in-store bagging option.
The extra charge is because Walmart has stopped using disposables in multiple states.
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On January 1st, all Walmart stores in Colorado went paper and plastic bag-free.
Also, as of January 18, we are not allowing single-use bags at any of our locations in New York or Connecticut.
All shoppers are now required to bring their own bags. Otherwise, you will end up with an optional extra charge at the cash register.
Walmart’s current offering of reusable bags includes options ranging from 74 cents to $3.98, but this all depends on the size and type of bag.
The new changes affect a total of 88 stores in Colorado and 99 stores in New York.
Many other stores have started charging shoppers 10 cents per paper or plastic bag.
However, Walmart still uses paper bags for delivery.
Other States Affected
Colorado and New York join the list of states where Walmart has changed its bag policy.
Here’s the full list of states that don’t allow single-use plastic bags:
Walmart has expanded this policy to improve its sustainability as a brand and protect the environment from further waste and pollution.
In 2020, Walmart joined Target and CVS in the “Beyond the Bag” initiative.
The campaign focused on sustainable alternatives to plastic bags that consumers still love.
Walmart has previously pledged to achieve zero waste across its U.S. and Canadian operations by 2025.
A spokesperson told Insider: “Eliminating single-use bags is our way of achieving zero waste across our operations and ultimately moving towards a gradual transition to a circular economy built by encouraging reuse, refilling and recycling practices. It’s part of our commitment.”
Retailers report preventing the use of 1.2 billion plastic and paper bags by removing them in some states.
the bigger trend
Walmart isn’t the only one to start banning single-use bags. Kroger also said he banned the practice in Virginia in October.
Several states across the country have banned single-use plastics to reduce pollution.
- California,
- connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- maine
- New York
- new jersey
- Oregon
- Vermont
Some stores in these states also charge 5 or 10 cents for each bag purchased.
New Jersey doesn’t even allow grocery stores to offer single-use plastic or paper bags as an option.
How to save money at walmart
Bag surcharges come in parallel with record-high inflation for Americans.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to save money when shopping at Walmart and other grocery stores.
For one thing, always buy store brand items over name brands.
This is said to save shoppers up to 30%.
The taste and quality of these products are also unlikely to be compromised.
IRi’s market research, cited by Ramsey Solutions, found that 75% of respondents believe the quality of store-branded merchandise is as good as that of mainstream domestic merchandise.
Loyalty app programs typically offer better deals and discounts than traditional coupons.
There are also free platforms like Ibotta and Fetch that give you cashback on every purchase.
A former Walmart employee has revealed the secret schedule the store uses for markdowns. This helps customers save tons.
Plus, check out Walmart’s best winter fashion staples, including rain boots for just $14.
