Wegmans grocery stores in Ithaca and Corning will not give shoppers the option of paper or plastic.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
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In advance of its plan to do away with plastic bags before New York State’s ban takes effect next year, Wegmans is trying out the no-plastic-policy in the two markets now. The elimination of plastic in Ithaca and Corning started July 29.

The Rochester-based chain announced in April it would move away from plastic bags before the state implements its ban next March.

Customers in Ithaca and Corning now must provide reusable shopping bags or pay a five-cent fee for each paper bag.

Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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Wegmans says that paper bag fee will be donated to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

The company says recent surveys show 95% of their customers own at least one reusable bag. 87% said they had at least three reusable bags.

(The survey didn’t show how many customers have the bags but forget to bring them out of their car and into the store when they shop.)

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