One thing that also adds to it is that while the state allowed a 5 cent fee as part of prohibiting plastic bags, it was left to each county as to if it would be collected or not. Only 7 counties (5 of which make up NYC, Suffolk on Long Island and Tompkins) approved that (though two cities, White Plains and Troy have also now approved it). There were also some areas that had their own rules before the state (Ulster County being one I know of).TW-Upstate NY wrote: ↑August 6th, 2020, 9:07 am Aside from Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops, pretty much everybody else is business as usual around here in regards to bags. Hannaford and Wal-Mart are using thin plastic and Target is using (and NOT charging for them) paper bags with handles. I just wish there was one coherent policy and every store would follow it-this one is using plastic and not charging, this one is using paper and charging, this one is using paper and not charging-sheesh! It frustrates the daylights out of the consumer.
So other places are not required to charge any fee.
But then some of the stores themselves decided to add fees (Price Chopper, Hannaford and ShopRite at least) as their way to encourage use of reusable bags (which are no different than what a chain like Aldi has always done to cut costs by not providing free bags, no matter of what type).
So, it really gets confusing (and doesn't help when store employees say it's a state rule in areas where it isn't).