It’ll Cost A Dime To Use That Plastic Bag In Branford Very Soon

BRANFORD, CT - While many towns across the state, including Branford and Guilford, have either passed or in the process of finalizing local ordinance plastic bag bans, a new state law will kick the movement into gear much sooner - in a few weeks.

On Aug. 1, Connecticut shoppers who prefer plastic bags will be spending an extra dime for that right, according to a new Connecticut law.

Meanwhile, the retail chain Big Y Thursday announced it has moved up its 2020 timeline to eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkouts in all of its locations - to Aug. 1.

“At Big Y, beyond providing great quality, great prices and great customer service, we also try to be smart about the resources and energy we use,” said Richard D. Bossie, Big Y Senior Vice President of Operations and Customer Experience. “By working with our shoppers, we can further reduce consumption to make a difference in and around the tight-knit communities that we serve across New England.”

For those shoppers who do not bring their own shopping bags to Big Y, beginning on Aug. 1, a 10-cent charge per paper bag will be added to their bill.

Big Y is not the first big chain to make this move. National chains Costco and Aldi, which both have stores in Connecticut, currently do not provide free single-use plastic bags.

Big Y is reacting, in part to the fact that a multitude of towns in Connecticut - and the state itself - have either passed legislation or are in the process of on plastic bag bans.

The statewide legislation signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont allows shoppers to continue to use plastic bags, if they like, for two more years until a total ban is called for, starting on Aug. 1st of 2021.

But starting this Aug. 1st, or in a few short weeks, each plastic bag in Connecticut will come with a 10-cent tax under the statewide legislation.

The legislation also allows any towns that have passed ordinances on their own on plastic bag bans to supercede state law, as long as the town ordinances are equally or more restrictive than the state law passed.

Across the state, Branford, Guilford, Hamden, Mansfield, Middletown, New Canaan, New Britain, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Greenwich, Westport and among others are in the process of passing bans on single-use plastic bag.

Those who follow the issue in the state say about 30 towns are in the process of either finalizing or getting close to finalizing their own bans on plastic bags — and/or charging fees for their use.

Many towns who have passed plastic use bans on their own will not have their bans go into effect for awhile - many have set Jan. 1, 2020 - to give grocers time to use up inventory.

Those towns, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CLTCV) Deputy Director Amanda Schoen said Thursday, will operate under the state law guidelines - meaning a dime per plastic bag come Aug. 1st of this year - until the date of the local town ordinance takes effect.

An example of how a town law will override state legislation is in Branford where the plastic ban ban will take effect in five months.

The Branford ordinance will impose a warning on a store that violates the ban, on a first offense, a second offense will result in a $150 fine, a third a $150 fine and eight hours of community service, and every subsequent violation another $150 fine.

Enforcement will fall under the jurisdiction of the Branford Police.

The Branford law allows retailers to charge for distribution of single use paper bags, something meant to strongly encourage residents to bring their own reusable bags for shopping. Retailers may charge up to 10 cents per bag, under the Branford law. That amount can increase another 5 cents every 5 years, up to a maximum of 25 cents.

Branford residents who are on food stamps or other state aid are exempt from the charge.