Wegmans has come out against Governor Cuomo’s proposal to ban single-use plastic bags at stores statewide.
The governor introduced the bill on Monday, saying 23 billion plastic bags are given out each year and they’re taking a toll on the streets, water and natural resources of New York.
But Wegmans says it got close to 50 percent recycling of those plastic bags last year, and the bags it uses are made of 40 percent recycled plastic. The company says banning the bags could have unintended consequences. It says paper grocery bags are heavier, take more trucks to carry the same number of bags, and they say recycled paper sacks take 90 percent more resources and energy to make than plastic grocery bags.