Newtown’s Big Y and more than 80 other stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut will eliminate single-use plastic bags at the checkouts on August 1 — coincidentally the same day a 10-cent tax on those environment clogging plastic shopping bags provided at retailers goes into effect across the state of Connecticut.

Big Y stores will offer discounts on reusable bags through the month of August as customers transition away from plastic.

According to a release, the company has been complying with single-use plastic bag bans in several Massachusetts communities since 2014. Coming off of recent changes to laws in various towns across the New England region, Big Y has moved up its 2020 timeline to eliminate single-use plastic at checkouts in all of its locations in order to streamline operations and to do its part to support sustainability.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States each year. When not disposed of properly, this plastic can end up in waterways and forests, where it can harm wildlife and our local communities.

Richard D. Bossie, Big Y senior vice president of operations and customer experience, commented, “By working with our shoppers, we can further reduce consumption to make a difference in and around the tight-knit communities that we serve across New England.”

Shoppers can find a variety of easily accessible, reusable bags in fun, new designs and sizes by the checkout counters. From local university logos to hometown sports icons and nautical themed bags, there’s something for everyone, the company believes.

For those shoppers who do not bring their own shopping bags beginning in August, a ten-cent charge per paper bag will be added to their bill at all Connecticut and Massachusetts Big Y locations. This fee is in an effort to promote the use of reusable bags instead of paper, which also cause harm to the environment.

Customers can keep their reusable bags in shopping-shape by washing them regularly with soap and water or disinfectant wipes. Big Y’s team of Registered Dietitians share tips for reusable bag cleaning online at [naviga:u]youtube.com/watch?v=5XDKyxuHU4Y[/naviga:u].