H-E-B launches drive to encourage customers to use reusable shopping bags

Starting Tuesday, H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (H-E-B) will distribute as many as 150,000 reusable shopping bags in its stores statewide in honor of Earth Day. H-E-B will also start encouraging customers to use plastic recycling bins at all of its stores to prevent more bags from entering the landfill.

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22, anyone that brings at least five plastic shopping bags to any H-E-B for recycling will receive a coupon for a free reusable shopping bag. The company is limiting one free reusable bag per customer and coupons are available while supplies last. H-E-B officials estimate they will collect as many as 750,000 plastic bags in one day.

H-E-B is accepting plastic bags from any retailer, not just its stores.

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Aside from the Earth Day giveaway, H-E-B customers will also be able to purchase the reusable green bags at any H-E-B store for 99 cents plus tax. The company estimates that the average family of four would be able to use between eight and 10 bags at the grocery store every week. Five cents from the sale of each bag will go toward H-E-B's Green Bag Grants for recycling programs through Keep Texas Beautiful.

San Antonio-based H-E-B operates stores in more than 150 communities throughout Texas and Mexico and employs more than 60,000 workers.

Web site:www.heb.com