Nov 4, 2019
Rochester, NY – Beginning Monday, November 4, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will pilot the removal of plastic bags at its Macedon and Henrietta, New York stores.
Goodwill plans to eliminate plastic bags from all of its Rochester and Syracuse area stores ahead of the state ban that will take effect on March 1, 2020.
During the pilot, shoppers at the Macedon and Henrietta Goodwill stores are encouraged to bring reusable shopping bags or purchase bags made from recycled materials that Goodwill has available for ninety-nine cents.
“In accordance with New York state law, single-use plastic bags will be banned in retail businesses on March 1, 2020. Goodwill is piloting this new reusable bags program to give our shoppers time to transition into the habit of bringing their own bags shopping with them,” says Jennifer Lake, President of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes.
Lake said that the pilot and the elimination of plastic bags go hand-in-hand with Goodwill’s commitment to sustainability and diverting 25 million of pounds of stuff out of local landfills each year.
“Goodwill was a pioneer of the sustainability movement, and we are determined to carry on that legacy by encouraging our shoppers to switch to reusable bags. They are the best solution to solve the problem of single-use plastic shopping bags,” said Lake.
Goodwill will not offer paper bags, said Lake, because of the negative environmental impact of transport of the bags, their lack of biodegradability, and the chemicals used in their manufacture.
“There is a positive impact on the environment with the increased use of reusable bags. You’ll see a decrease in single-use plastic shopping bags that will have a lasting impact on the environment for years to come,” said Lake.
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