The Weaver Street Market co-op launched a reusable bag initiative Earth Day, April 22, announcing paper and plastic bags will no longer be offered at registers during checkout.
Weaver Street is one of the first grocers in North Carolina to eliminate all uses of paper and plastic bags.
Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags, however there are options available at checkout if needed, including a 99¢ reusable plastic “Weaver Bag” along with an insulated version running for $1.99. Another alternative is to use the canvas “Bring it Back Sack,” which can be reused up to 125 times for 15¢.
Carrboro Weaver Street General Manager Market Ruffin Slater emphasizes the co-op’s commitment to protecting the environment and making its customers more environmentally aware.
“This is an opportunity for us to make a meaningful difference in our community through collective action,” Slater said. “We recognize that bold steps are needed to address climate change, and this is one way we can work together with our customers to make a real impact and reduce the pollution caused by single-use bags.”
Typically, Weaver Street shoppers are offered two options for bagging when checking out: paper or plastic.
“A typical Weaver Street shopper uses about 150 bags each year, enabling the Triangle co-op to eliminate the use of more than one million single-use bags each year,” Slater said. “During 2018, Weaver Street customers used 601,000 plastic bags, 509,000 paper bags and 390,000 reusable bags.”
Green Tigers club presidents and seniors Olivia Vrba and Lilly Crook support the new step Weaver Street is taking.
“What Weaver is doing is super exciting and will hopefully promote the idea to other grocers and stores that use paper and plastic bagging,” Vrba said. “It’s also great to know that one of the first grocers to make this step is only about 10 minutes away, so it’s super convenient too.”
Offering the two reusable bags helps combat the negative aspects of single-use plastic bagging.
“Prices that range from as little as 15¢ to a maximum of $2.00 for the bags make it easy and accessible,” Crook said. “Everyone who shops at Weaver Street should seriously consider taking part in this new initiative, it feels very rewarding knowing you’re actively helping the environment.”
