Reusable Bags Are Allowed Again, But Some Confusion In Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — You can now technically bring your own bags to the grocery store again, after the state’s Commissioner of Public Health Monica Bharel rescinded her department's orders earlier this spring that suspended bans and other measures that might spread the virus. But word has not reached all grocery stores, including in Brookline, where some shoppers were told they still could not use their own bags.

The state issued guidance on March 25 and April 7 that listed eight restrictions to help keep the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, at bay. But July 10, many of those guidelines were dropped. For the 139 cities and towns in Massachusetts with bans on single-shopping bags it meant the state was allowing them to return to the days of charging 10 cents per bag and allow shoppers to their own reusable bags.

This means stores in Newton, Watertown, Wellesley, Brookline and other communities where bag bans existed before March 25 should not be using plastic bags and should be charging fees today.

But at least one store in Brookline didn't seem to get the memo.

Several shoppers went into the Star Market on Beacon Street Tuesday afternoon with their own bags, but were told at the check out that they were not permitted to use their own bags. Instead, they were offered plastic bags.

A spokesperson for the parent company did not immediately return request for comment. We will update when they do. A Brookline official said they were not aware that the grocery store was not allowing reusable bags, but added it could be a part of their public health policy for the chain. Stores are permitted to keep more conservative protocols than the state requires.

Meanwhile, staff at Trader Joe's said they've been allowing shoppers to come in with their own bags, as long as they bag themselves. The Stop and Shop on Harvard Avenue told customers the same.

The Retailers Association of Massachusetts petitioned the state to give retailers a chance to use up the plastic bags they had ordered, or a chance to stock back up on paper bags, but the state did not do this.

The regional chamber of commerce petitioned the mayor's office to do something similar, and she is giving businesses until September to get rid of their plastic bags. Boston and Brookline officials gave businesses until the end of September.

The state guidance still requires that grocery stores and retail stores with a pharmacy department must provide dedicated hours at least one hour each day of operation, in the early morning, for adults 60 years of age and older. These hours must be conspicuously posted.

Previously:

• March 25: New Rules For MA Grocery Stores, Pharmacies Amid Pandemic
• April 7: Grocery Stores Advised To Operate At 40 percent capacity...
• June 8: Retail Stores Given Details On Reopening, Can Begin ...
• July 11: Newton Businesses Concerned Over Sudden Return Of Plastic Bag Ban
• July 12: Massachusetts Lifts Ban On Reusable Bags

Did you try and use a reusable bag at a store this weekend or in the past couple of days? Let us know how it went. Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.