× Expand Courtesy of Weaver Street Market Weaver Street Market, a cooperative natural foods grocery headquartered in Carrboro, is moving its kitchen and bakery to Hillsborough to accommodate customer demand. More than 100 people signed a petition protesting the move, but the co-op board overruled those objections.

Come Earth Day, Weaver Street Market will ask customers to BYOB—Bring Your Own Bag. On April 22, the Triangle co-op is shifting exclusively to reusable bags, phasing out the paper and plastic single-use bags traditionally associated with grocery store trips.

“This is an opportunity for us to make a meaningful difference in our community through collective action,” general manager Ruffin Slater said in a statement. “We recognize that bold steps are needed to address climate change, and this is one way we can work together with our customers to make a real impact and reduce the pollution caused by single-use bags.”

Weaver Street Market’s shift comes as the United States grapples with high levels of plastic waste across the country. In 2015, 26 million tons of plastic ended up in American landfills.

× Expand Courtesy of Weaver Street Market

Weaver Street Market will be the first grocer in North Carolina to eliminate single-use bags once the policy goes into effect.

Weaver Street stores in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Raleigh—opening in June—will give customers the option to purchase reusable bags for 99 cents or insulated bags for $1.99. The co-op will also offer 15-cent “Bring It Back Sacks” made of recycled materials sturdy enough to be used 125 times.