Boston Enacts Plastic Bag Ban

BOSTON – On Friday, December 14, Boston joins 80 other cities in the country to implement a plastic bag ban. Grocery Dive reports that the ban immediately impacts retailers in Boston with 20,000 square feet or more. Stores with at least 10,000 square feet must adhere by April 1 and smaller stores have until July 1.
 
The goal is for shoppers to bring their own reusable bags. Customers that forget them will be charged a 5-cent fee for each paper bag they use. Retailers are allowed to offer recyclable paper, compostable or reusable bags but must advertise the charge near the checkout lane.
 
The first stores to implement the rule are Stop & Shop, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Roche Brothers and Shaw’s and Star Market. If a grocer or retailer violates the rule, they’ll receive a warning the first time, a $50 fine the second time and a $100 fine the third time.
 
The ban’s implementation comes at a busy time for retailers as the holiday season is in full swing. According to Grocery Dive, retailers are also struggling to find a cost-effective and timely way to offer reusable bag options.