Lakewood Wawas Giving Away Reusable Bags As Plastic Bag Ban Starts

LAKEWOOD, NJ — As New Jersey's ban on stores supplying plastic bags takes effect Wednesday, many people have been slow to pick up reusable bags to have in their place.

Wawa is offering customers a chance to get started, however. The convenience store company is giving away 1,000 reusable bags at each of its 272 stores in New Jersey on Wednesday.

That includes the Wawas in and near Lakewood: 605 East County Line Road, Lakewood; 135 Route 70, Lakewood; and 94 Route 70 at Massachusetts Avenue in Toms River.

Wawa is calling it the "Skip the Bag for Good" initiative, and it begins at 7 a.m. The bags will be given away at no charge with a purchase to customers, while supplies last.

The bags will sell for 35 cents each after the free bags have been distributed.

"We thank our customers for joining Wawa and the State of New Jersey in our journey to 'skip the bag for good' as we work together to keep our community safe, scenic and sustainable," said Dave Simonetti, senior director of store operations for New Jersey.

"Shopping with a reusable bag is a change of habit for many people that can reduce our long-term impact on the environment, and we are excited to do our part to support our community," he said.

The company said it also will be taking steps to reduce single-use plastic bag consumption in all of it stores.