Toms River Wawas Giving Away Reusable Bags As Plastic Bag Ban Starts

TOMS RIVER, 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 the Toms River area: 1600 Route 37 East, Toms River; 2302 Route 37 East, Toms River; 179 Route 37 East, Toms River; 254 Route 37 West, Toms River; 1725 Hooper Ave., Toms River; 1166 Fischer Blvd., Toms River; 1680 Route 9, Toms River; 3485 Route 35, Lavallette; and 379 Dover Road, South 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.