Supermarket offers bag alternative

Matamoras – The Price Chopper Supermarket chain is partnering with Fiberlinks Textiles, Inc., the largest manufacturer of environmentally-friendly reusable grocery bags in North America to offer their customers a shopping bag alternative. Customized in a trendy and stylish off-white with multi-colored design, the bags will help the company reduce plastic bag supply costs and increase efficiency. The bags are on display at Price Chopper stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and four other states beginning Earth Day, Sunday, Apr. 22. “This consumer friendly branded bag helps eliminate plastic bags. They are washable, hold up to 50 lbs, and are made of woven propylene which is 100% post consumer recycled product”, according to company spokesperson Barbara Page. Another environmentally friendly program that the chain recently launched is called “Bag2Bag”. Consumers can return used plastic bags to recycling bins. The bags are sent to Price Chopper’s Resource Recovery facility where they are baled and picked up by a vendor who makes new plastic bags for the chain. A third option for consumers is bringing their own shopping bags to repack their orders. For every reused bag, customers receive a 3 cents credit on their register receipts. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. Billions end up as litter each year. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade, breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and are harmful to animals and nature. To find a participating Price Chopper store near you, visit www.pricechopper.com .