(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Starting March 28th, shoppers at Walmart stores will have to pay their plastic bags. And they are not alone. Target plans to make the same change.
Walmart announced they are now charging customers for bags at Drive Up and Order Pickup orders. Customers will pay 42 cents for delivery orders and 10 cents per bag for pickup or in-store purchases. Target is following its grocery rival and charging a fee for bags as well. On its website, Target says the bag fee will be based on local and state mandates.
When you place an order at Target, they will automatically charge you for ten bags for $1. That is to ensure large orders are covered. That number will be adjusted based on the number of bags actually used. The customer will be charged accordingly. Note: The charges will not appear on the app.
There's one cool thing about the Target bag fees. Consumers will have the option to decline bags at the time of pickup. Their original payment method will be refunded. There is no option for "no bags" when checking out.
Both Walmart and Target want to combat waste and pollution. Like many other companies , they want to reduce the amount of plastic they give out to consumers. Both encourage customers to use reusable bags -- ones they can bring from home or purchase in-store at checkout.
While the new bag policy is intended to be positive, not everyone is happy about. Several consumers have expressed their frustration, saying it's just another hit to their wallets. Right now, the plastic bag charge only applies to specific states and municipalities. There are a few states that now ban plastic bags. That number may soon increase as the pressure continues on corporations to move towards sustainability.
Want to avoid the bag fee all together? You can always consider taking a trip and shop in-store instead.
