Once-shunned plastic bags are making a comeback as grocery stores ban reusable totes

Reusable grocery bags — often lauded as good for the environment — are being temporarily banned by a growing number of communities over safety concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

There is no proof reusable bags spread COVID-19, but there is concern anything brought from someone’s home to a public place could host the highly contagious virus.

As a result, some communities are banning reusable bags of all types, including the city and county of San Francisco and the entire state of New Hampshire. In the latter case, a state order calls “the exclusive use of store provided single use plastic or paper bags when bagging groceries of other products.”

In San Francisco, the ban forbids customers to bring any bags, “mugs or other reusable items from home” into a store.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not issued any guidance on reusable grocery bags, which are often made of cloth or durable plastic.

Consumer Reports recently noted experts do not back the idea that reusable bags put people at greater risk, but report “it may feel safer to switch to single-use disposable bags during the outbreak.”

The chief concern among some experts is that consumers may not wash the fabric bags as often as they should and that presents an unnecessary risk, according to a recent Associated Press story.

“If those bags coming into the store are contaminated with anything, they get put on the conveyor belt, the counter, and you’re putting yourself in a bad spot,” Matt Seaholm of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance told AP.

A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated what happens to the coronavirus on plastic, stainless steel, cooper and cardboard, but did not single out fabric. The study found COVID-19’s infectious qualities were still viable for 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard and four hours on copper.

The plastics industry is seizing the opportunity to promote its products amid the pandemic, and recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services citing studies that it says show reusable bags are less sanitary.

It also wants the department to issue a public statement on the health benefits of single-use plastics.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many Americans, businesses and government officials to realize that single-use plastics are often the safest choice,” wrote Plastics Industry Association President Tony Radoszewski.

“Our country is at a critical point in our fight against the novel coronavirus and I am proud to say that the plastics industry is working overtime to produce products and supplies to help in that effort.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 9:21 AM.