Goodwill to end use of plastic bags in Southwestern Pa.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is joining the plastic bag ban.

The regional nonprofit chain of 34 Goodwill thrift stores will eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags later this month. Shoppers are encouraged to use a free box from the store, bring their own reusable bag, or buy a Goodwill fabric tote bag for $1.

“We strive to minimize our environmental impact and maximize the value of each donation to support Goodwill’s mission services,” said Andrew Marano, Vice President of Donated Goods Retail at Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “This enables us to help thousands of people we help annually through job training and education programs.”

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania said it will be free of plastic bags by March 15. Its stores stretch across the greater Pittsburgh region and parts of West Virginia.

The thrift store chain is getting ahead of other regional efforts to limit and eliminate plastic bag use. Regional grocery chain Giant Eagle has phased out plastic bag use at some of its stores in Ohio and plans to eventually eliminate use at all its stores, which stretch across Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.

The city of Pittsburgh passed legislation last year to ban single-use plastic bags in the city, and the law is set to go into effect sometime this spring.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania said it expects to reduce the waste of over 300,000 plastic bags annually. The nonprofit said plastic bags contribute to pollution through their manufacturing process, as well as litter in communities and waterways.