Tops brings back plastic bags amid COVID-19 concerns

Marcia Greenwood | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, Tops Friendly Markets once again is offering customers single-use plastic bags.

The move comes after New York pushed back enforcement of its plastic-bag ban to May 15 from April 1 as the state Department of Environmental Conservation deals with a ban-related lawsuit now delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, reports the New York Post.

“Tops is temporarily not enforcing (the ban) in order to help with sanitation concerns surrounding reusable bags and COVID-19,” the company said in a statement.

The Democrat and Chronicle is providing this story for free. For more coronavirus coverage, sign up for our daily newsletter. To support local journalism, please consider subscribing to the D&C.

The statement did not spell out the concerns, but Tops spokesperson Kathy Sautter later explained that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus can live on surfaces, such as reusable bags, for hours or even days.

Updates: Latest coronavirus news in Monroe County.

Along those lines, she said customers who bring reusable bags to stores are being asked to pack their own groceries "to protect our cashiers."

Otherwise, customers will be given the option of having a cashier pack their groceries in paper or plastic bags.

No fee will be charged for plastic bags; a 5-cent fee will be charged per paper bag.

“This procedure is in place at all of our stores until further notice,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Wegmans Food Markets does not plan to reintroduce plastic bags at its New York state stores, said spokesperson Laura Camera. "We continue to monitor the situation and guidance from New York state officials," she said.

Coronavirus: Wegmans and Tops adding sneeze guards to protect cashiers and customers.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@Gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter as @MarciaGreenwood. Your subscription makes work like this possible.