On January 1, 2010, Washington, D.C. instated a 5¢ tax on plastic shopping bags. According to TreeHugger, within a month, plastic bag use had dropped from 22 million to 3 million per month, simultaneously generating $150,000 in revenue in the first month. The Washington Post reported,
In its first assessment of how the new law is working, the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue estimated that food and grocery establishments gave out about 3 million bags in January. Before the bag tax took effect Jan. 1, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer had said that about 22.5 million bags were being issued each month in 2009.
Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), sponsor of the bag tax bill, said the new figures show that city residents are adapting to the law far more quickly than he or other city officials had expected.
We could do this easily (assuming we no longer have legislators who actually traffic in this odious commodity).
I agree too. Plastic bags use a tremendous amount of petroleum and other resources for something used just once. Charge a tax, watch people reuse bags…win.
I agree with Wess. This is a great idea, and there should be one for bottles and soda cans as well. Not sure how receptive the legislature would be.
I think it’s a great idea, but I’m uncertain of the Assembly’s willingness to do it. I don’t understand why we still don’t have a bottle bill.