Syracuse, N.Y. — Stores must allow shoppers to bring in their old, saved plastic bags for use at checkout after the state’s plastic bag ban goes into effect.

The question of whether that would be allowed under the new law was one of the most frequent we heard when we asked you for your questions on the bag ban. The state Department of Environmental Conservation weighed in on the topic in a statement on Thursday.

The ban, known officially as the Bag Waste Reduction Act, says stores are not allowed to prevent anyone from using a bag of any kind that they bring in to carry away goods, according to the DEC.

Big grocery chains were split on the question before the DEC addressed it.

Tops said previously its stores would allow it. Wegmans said it was making changes to bag stands and wouldn't be able to accommodate any plastic bags.

Wegmans eliminated plastic bags at checkout on Monday in advance of the statewide ban, which goes into effect March 1.

Wegmans now says shoppers can bring in old plastic bags and use them at checkout.

"As we strive to eliminate single-use bags, we encourage customers to use reusable bags," Wegmans spokeswoman Evelyn Ingram said in a statement. "However, we will continue to help our customers with alternative bagging requests."

Price Chopper said it wanted to hear from the state on whether the practice was allowable before making a decision. Now that the DEC has spoken, the chain will allow old plastic bags in stores for reuse, said Mona Golub, vice president of public relations and consumer services at the company.

All three chains have been encouraging shoppers to switch to reusable bags.

Price Chopper and Tops plan to eliminate plastic bags on March 1. Both chains will also start charging a 5-cent fee for paper bags when the ban takes effect.

Wegmans implemented a 5-cent for paper when it eliminated plastic bags on Monday.

More on New York’s plastic bag ban

Dog poop, tiny trash cans, more: Questions answered on NY’s plastic bag ban

You’ll soon pay for paper bags at Tops, Wegmans, more as NY plastic bag ban nears

New York plastic bag ban start date, who’s affected, bags you can still get

NY plastic bag ban nears: How to clean your reusable bags so they don’t get gross

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