Calif. Moves to Ban Plastic Bags at Grocery Stores

Did you ever think that there would come a day when we would pay for the plastic grocery bag that holds our groceries? Well, in California it is happening. You will soon have to pay for plastic grocery bags.

Yesterday, the California Assembly passed legislation prohibiting pharmacies, grocery, liquor and convenience stores from giving out plastic bags. The bill also includes that customers will have to pay for using store-issued paper bags.

The ban is to help with plastic bag “pollution” since they often wind up in rivers and the ocean. They are also trying to reduce the number of plastic bags that wind up in landfills. A plastic bag ban first gained popularity in countries other than the U.S., such as South Africa, Ireland, China, and Bangladesh.

If signed into law, California would be the first state to adopt such a ban.

What do you think? Does a plastic bag ban and paying to use paper bags make sense in order to protect our environment? Or do you disagree with the ban and think California taxpayers just cannot afford this? Contact me on FaceBook at www.Facebook.com/ronideutch or
on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ronideutch.

Read the full article here.

Paper or Plastic? D.C. Taxes on All Disposable Bags

Earlier this week Washington DC council members passed a new tax in the amount of 5 cents on all disposable grocery bags. The decision was unanimous and as the council claimed it would greatly help the environment. Check out an article on the new tax below, courtesy of Wilja.com.

Mike Carter says that's "a good idea, if it's going to help the environment."

The tax impacts both paper and plastic disposable bags.

"I think it's a good thing if people are taxed on their bags," said Raisa Stebbins. "They'll stop using using bags -- better for the environment, better for the people."

The bill prohibits businesses from paying the fee on behalf of customers. Establishments caught not taxing customers face a $100 fine for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for the third violation within one calendar year.

"I like the concept of what they are trying to accomplish but as a general rule, I don't like taxes," said Peter Brown.

Four of the 5 cents from the new tax will go to cleaning up the Anacostia River. The other cent will go to businesses to off set the cost of implementing the new tax.

"It's an incentive for people to bring their own bags, so it could have a good effect," added Felicia Sonmez.

And if you do bring your own reusable bag, you won't be hit by the nickel tax.