Wegmans: Plastic bag ban is not best for environment

Wegmans is now weighing in on Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to ban single-use plastic bags at stores statewide.

Wegmans argues the ban would likely lead to an increase in the use of paper bags, which Wegmans claims is not what's best for the environment.

The grocery market chain says it's possible to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags by educating customers about reusable bags and reminding them to bring plastic bags back to the store for recycling.

Wegmans says its plastic bags are made from 40 percent recycled plastic and their recycling rate for plastic bags is on average close to 50 percent.

Increasing the use of reusable bags is the best way to reduce the number of paper and plastic bags being used, according to Wegmans. It says plastic bags are the second-best option because they are made from natural gas, not oil, and are very light compared to reusable and paper bags, requiring fewer trucks for transportation.