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Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is celebrating Earth Day with a commitment. Beginning on April 22, plastic shopping bags will no longer be available in its 51 retail and outlet stores, including the one on Yadkinville Road in Mocksville.

Shoppers will be encouraged to bring their own reusable bags. Eeusable tote bags in five styles will be available for purchase in stores for $1.29.

On Monday, April 22, the first 25 shoppers at the Mocksville store will receive a free reusable tote bag with a purchase.

“Goodwill joins other retailers who’ve realized how much plastic shopping bags contribute to landfills and waterway pollution. We’re doing our part to reduce that waste by removing millions of plastic bags from circulation,” said Barbara Maida-Stolle, president and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC.

In 2023, Goodwill area stores used more than 17 million plastic bags. small, 11,876,000; large, 5,901,000.