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0 shares Share 0 Tweet 0 Pin 0 Share 0 One of the biggest drivers of plastic waste is the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail stores. And one of the largest retailers in America …

One of the biggest drivers of plastic waste is the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail stores. And one of the largest retailers in America has announced a critical step towards eliminating single-use plastic bags. 

Walmart will step up efforts and gradually remove these plastic bags from stores on a state-by-state basis. 

The company is trying to get ahead of legislation that is already moving forward in many states and already has a good alternative with reusable shopping bags. 

A report on CNN Business had some interesting details that highlight the underlying problem. 

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“Plastic bags do not biodegrade and only 10% of them are ever recycled, according to the EPA. When bags are mistakenly placed in traditional recycling bins, they can escape into the environment or jam recycling equipment at material recovery facilities.”

While America is still far behind Europe when it comes to charging for shopping bags and making more environmentally friendly ones available, this is a big step. 

And it will be interesting to see how quickly Walmart can expand this program to all its stores. It’s an important step in removing some of the most damaging types of plastic from nature. 

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