Target Subtracts Five Cents for Shopping with Their Bags

Earth Day may be over, but Target wants to remind consumers to be earth friendly while shopping by giving them an incentive. Target shoppers in Evanston may notice the bottom of their receipts have a different message. Instead of "Thanks! Your purchase helps give 5% of our income to communities," shoppers may see, "Get 5 cents off every time you use a reusable bag."

For customers who want to bumrush a Target location with their old plastic bags, keep them at home. Target's policy is for consumers to use reusable cloth bags, not plastic bags of any sort.

According to USA Today, this program started on Nov. 1, 2009.

CVS pharmacy also has an incentive program to give customers $1 cash bonuses on their CVS cards every fourth time they decline using plastic bags.

For those who have a bunch of plastic bags at home and want to reuse what they already have, all Whole Foods Market locations continue to deduct 10 cents for every bag a customer uses, whether it's plastic or cloth. At the front of the south Evanston location, there's a blue recyclable bin where people can leave their excess plastic bags.

Cashiers will also allow consumers to use bags in the bins already for 10 cent deductions.

"Sometimes I see people use the bags in the bin," said an Evanston South customer service desk clerk. "Personally I wouldn't because I don't know where people's hands have been and worry about bugs, but on the other hand, it does help the environment."

However, there are concerns about the sanitary habits of reusable bags as well. NationalPost.com reported that some re-usable bags were found with "unacceptably high levels of bacteria, yeast, mold and coliform counts."

Regardless of which way consumers decide to shop, be prepared to use either or. Keep plastic bags and reusable bags in a place you'll have easy accessibility to, whether they stay in your car, folded up in your purse or in a bike or bookbag. Make sure to wash reusable bags regularly and avoid sitting them down on dirty grocery store or kitchen floors.

Additional Notes: This entry was originally published by the Chicago News & Events Examiner.