Austin Retailers Report 40% Reduction in Plastic Bag Use

Austin retailers who participated in the city-led , “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” campaign report that they have recycled over 20 percent more bags at stores during the first half of 2008 compared with the same period in 2006, Austin Business Journal reports.

Retailers like HEB, Randall’s, Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s and Target provided 40 percent fewer plastic bags to their customers during the first six months of 2008 than during the same period in 2006. The city says stores sold around 443,000 reusable bags to customers, more than one bag for every two Austin residents.

Last year, Whole Foods Market banned plastic grocery bags at the checkouts in its two stores in Austin, Texas. Last month, IKEA announced that the company would no longer be offering plastic or paper bags at any of its U.S. stores.

Earlier this month, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for a 6-cent fee for every plastic shopping bag given to shoppers, with 1 cent going to the retailer and 5 cents going to the city