Major change coming to multiple Walmarts could inconvenience shoppers

WALMART has removed single-use plastic bags from all their stores in Washington State in an effort to reduce waste.

The ban kicked in on April 18, almost two years after the Washington legislature passed a plastic bag ban affecting large merchants.

Walmart customers will no longer be able to use plastic bags at checkout, and are being encouraged to bring their own bags.

The popular department store will also offer reusable bags and containers for a small cost.

There are, however, a couple exceptions to the ban, according to Big Country News.

Walmart's delivery services will continue to utilize paper bags and stores will use single-use bags to prevent food contamination or as required by law.

Jane Ewing, senior vice president of Walmart Sustainability, said that the decision aligns with Walmart's renewed efforts to protect local communities.

"Eliminating single-use bags is part of our effort to reduce waste at our stores and help keep Washington communities and ecosystems clean," said Ewing.

She added that she hopes Washingtonians will support the move to eliminate plastic.

"Our Washington customers want to be engaged on this journey, and Walmart is committed to making the sustainable choice convenient and accessible every day."

Washington is not the first place Walmart has removed plastic bags.

In fact, the retailer has already eliminated paper and plastic bags in Canada and Mexico.

Within the U.S., plastic bag bans have gone into effect in Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.

The company projected that they will avoid using 1.2 billion plastic and paper bags every year by enforcing the ban in these six states.