Would a Shopping Bag Tax Make You Use Re-Usable Bags?

I use them because I do not like to produce unnecessary waste. Speaking of which, can we somehow stop the junk mail. I am against most government regulation, but there is a place for one.

I think its crap paying for bags,groceries are high enough as it is

Every time I hear someone referencing “cutting down 14,000 trees,” to make paper, they always fail to mention that paper manufacturers are NOT cutting down national forests. Paper manufacturers cut trees on tree farms that are grown for making paper. Then the manufacturers plant NEW trees to replace the ones used. That’s recycling at the source!

I don’t need a tax to get me to use reusable bags as I have been doing so for quite some time, but if it will get others to use them, then I would be in favor of a tax. Unfortunately I don’t think it would change the usage habits of the public at large. I think a ban on plastic bags would be a better first step.

I completely agree we should eliminate plastic bags and I use reusable bags often. However, I use paper bags most every week when I grocery shop because when I’m done with them I use them to collect my kitchen garbage instead of buying plastic bags. I see it as being doubly environmentally conscious!

Just the idea of this pisses me off. Trying to reduce waste is fine, but to me, this is just another way to drain money from already struggling consumers. I don’t believe this is the right way to go about making things better. Reusable bags cost more and are much less convenient…I don’t think charging a tax on plastic/paper bags is going to make people more environment friendly, because we are a nation of convenience.

I already use them. BUT I still use the small bags in the fruit and vegie setion since many of the fresh items I buy are wet. Taxing these would be annoying.

My owner uses the plastic bags to clean my litter box. I don’t think it matters if she uses grocery bags or buys plastic bags to do so but either way we would have to pay.
Duncan Frevert

so if there is a tax on plastic bags, does that mean a refund on those bags that are brought back to the store to be recycled? i would hope so.

SILLY TAX TOILET PAPER USE AND JUNK MAIL.

I have a problem for a tax on paper bags. I understand the concept to get people to stop using them so less trees are cut down, but many people, like myself, use paper bags instead of plastic to recycle all my junk mail, newspapers, etc. in. I do have re-usable cloth bags, but sometimes, you just have too many groceries for not enough bags.
Speaking of recycling, why can’t they start making RECYCLED paper bags? Hmm?

Europeans have been doing this for years, and I think it is about time US consumers started doing their part.

Instead of taxing the paper and plastic bags why not give a credit to those who bring in their own?

I’ve been carrying my own bags for years and am still encounter push-back from the cashiers and bag “boys”. They say it is harder to bag, especially groceries, so I always offer to help which also is usually met with a look of distain. Nevertheless I continue to use my own bags. I estimate I get less than 1 disposable bag a week.

I hate plastic bags and take my own cloth to the store. There should be a surcharge for using the store plastic because they are choking our landfills and are often found in trees and water outside. At least paper will biodegrade and can be made from recyclable material.

Why doesn’t somebody come up with biodegradable plastic bags?

Americans generally do not go for “punishments” they would rather pay the shopper tax then remember to bring the bags with them to the stores. I remember back in NJ there was a store who offered incentives if you brought your own bags or even reused plastic bags. You would recieve 5 cents off for each bag you brought in, people would come into the store with a bag stuffed full of plastic bags. This would solve any problems of “unfairly targeting the poor”

Tax plastic bags 25c each. They are made from oil based product and take hundreds of years to decompose. I use cloth bags almost all the time.

Taxes like this make me want to punch the person who suggested it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with paper bags. Completely renewable and biodegradable. All you green freaks that want to tax everyone out of their cars and back to their tents make me really mad.

Why not give a discount to those who DO use the resuseable bags?

When we lived in Italy, they charged per bag and you had to ask the cashier for the bags. Those who did not have reusable bags, stuffed as much into one sack as possible, so as to use as few as possible.
I have bought my reusable bags, but I often forget to take them to the store. If I knew I was going to pay more I would probably remember.
I disagree that this tax would put a hardship on anyone. It is not that expensive to get reusable bags to easily avoid such a tax. Most stores sell them for $1 or less.

I believe that one should carry their own cloth bags to the supermarket. Plastic or paper bags should be banned completely. Its just sounds a lot of trouble but we all will get used to it soon. And why not, for all the trees saved and less garbage to deal with!

This seems to be another bandaid solution to a serious problem. Why would we tax a consumer’s bag and allow manufacturers to produce so many plastic jars and bottles. I may be old but I remember deposits on glass bottles. Where did we go wrong!

Yes, local governments should tax anything as wasteful and irresponsible
as the use of plastic and paper bags.
They should charge the same amount as what a cloth bag costs.

A great many people re-use plastic and paper grocery bags to dispose of trash and cat litter. Would you prefer that we buy NEW plastic bags for those purposes?

I have been using reusable bags since the 80′s. Once you get into the habit of keeping them in the back seat of the car, it is no big deal. I am sure a tax would encourage the development of this habit in others. People do not realize that plastic bags are a petroleum product and their use is adding to our oil dependence. Also, the next time you are driving, count how many plastic bags you spot.

Americans generally do not go for “punishments” they would rather pay the shopper tax then remember to bring the bags with them to the stores. I remember back in NJ there was a store who offered incentives if you brought your own bags or even reused plastic bags. You would recieve 5 cents off for each bag you brought in, people would come into the store with a bag stuffed full of plastic bags. This would solve any problems of “unfairly targeting the poor”

The higher tax per bag the better. I have reusable bags and keep them in my car. A tax on the plastic bags will make me purchase several reusable bags and keep some in each of my vehicles. Europe has used reusable bags for a long time. This simple solution is something all Americans can do for the environment and keep the use of crude oil to make the plastic bags down.

why doesn’t industry come up with a biodegradable plastic bag like they do for leaf collection

I re use plastic and paper bags for my trash cans. If I can’t use them because of a tax, I’ll have to buy plastic trash can liners at the supermarket. This will not only cost me more than paying a bag tax but will also produce more trash than the original bags.

A great many people re-use plastic and paper grocery bags to dispose of trash and cat litter. Would you prefer that we buy NEW plastic bags for those purposes?

Have you ever had one of those plastic bags fly up and stick to your windshield?
Terror! Hate them. Don’t think there should be a TAX, just stop making them!!!!
I recycle them and use the paper for many other things. If supermarkets didn’t supply bags, people would have to bring their own. Make sense?

Plastic bags are healthy, stay clean and should not be replaced by bags that become contaminated.

I’ve been using canvas bags for years and it’s no big deal. Most stores are selling them now for about $1 each. But I can see how it might be unfair to those who are struggling with food stamps. Keep the tax, but let people on food stamps buy the bags for 10 cents each or something reasonable. The more people who use them, the better our environment will be.

i don’t mind using the cloth bags, in fact have tried to. but the grocery store baggers don’t know how to bag/pack them…they are too heavy to pick up. they are nice big bags and hold alot, but by the time you fill them up, you can’t pick them up!

there should not be a tax, but people should be more responsible and take it upon themselves to use reusable bags. they hold more, less waste, just keep them in you car so you will always have them. they are cheap to buy. there is no reason not too.

I have a degree in Forestry. Paper for paper bags do not come from virgin forest. Fast growing hybrid trees are typically planted, grown, and harvested, and replanted. Paper bags are bio-degradable and support jobs in the paper industry.
We purchased our own cloth bags but paper is prefered over plastic when we are without.

I find it offensive that a company or any government ASSUMES they have the AUTHORITY to make me pay a “tax” for the way I transport my goods I have purchased from where I bought them to my vehicle/home/destination.
There is no place for any more government regulation, ANYWHERE in our future. More regulation does nothing to prevent or avail our current problems as a nation.

Such a simple thing to do for the environment. I have been using them for years. If taxing bags makes people more environmentally responsible the do it!

Why are we always thinking of way to tax and take away from people? Why don’t grocery stores give you a rebate of $.30 if you use your cloth bag. I think using a cloth bag or another bag of my own is a great idea,but right now people are just taxed out.

Tax … NO … A deposit YES … Put a 10 to 20 cent deposit on them … and allow people to turn them into a recycling center to get the money for them. That way People will clean up the mess. Just little the Bottle Deposit is supposed to do. If people don’t want to pick up the bags … then let others profit from doing the work people won’t

I am against the use of reuseable shopping bags simply because they have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens. People don’t wash these and the pathogens get on food that won’t be cooked such as vegtables. I don’t have a problem using paper bags, infact I prefer paper bags, but you can’t find them anymore.

Eliminate all bags: While we are on the edge of change with automobiles, why not build them with a grocery box/storage container capable of removal, and installation that supports the average grocery cart load. You can use it or just transfer groceries back into your cart and off load in the auto for quick removal when you get home.

All For Taxing Plastic, Paper, Tin Cans, Pets, Airline Flights, Cars, etc.etc.
Whatever you want as long as I can bring it back for my money back.

I say tax them and tax them big! It is the only way people are going to stop filling our landfills with them. I gave reuseable canvas bags to all of my friends for Christmas.

As soon as we stop using plastic to package all the goods we buy. It is a farse to start at the cash register and not the shelf.

I have a degree in Forestry. Paper is not made from trees from virgin forests. Typically, fast growing hybrid trees are planted, grown, and harvested. Paper is bio degradable and supports paper/forest jobs.
We use cloth. But paper is better then plastic.

I am against the use of reuseable shopping bags simply because they have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens. People don’t wash these and the pathogens get on food that won’t be cooked such as vegtables. I don’t have a problem using paper bags, infact I prefer paper bags, but you can’t find them anymore.

They should charge for bags without a doubt, that is going to be the only thing that wakes people up to bring their own bags! It is so much pollution and so much waste! Plastic bags also clog the machines used for recycling other products. There is nothing good about plastic shopping bags! And don’t even get me started about paper ones! Charge people $1, $5, $10, $100!!!!! Whatever it takes! WAKE UP AMERICA!

if we don’t get free plastic bage we’ll just buy plastic trash bags so what’s the difference

I have used reusable bags since the 1970′s. Europeans, men & women carry their own bags or baskets when they shop. Just keep bags in the trunk of your car or briefcase. We should charge a sizable amount (10 cents) per bag. People would get screaming mad and start carrying shopping bags. The proceeds could be used to clean up local environments.

Even in rural Kansas, we get credit for having bringing bags!
I also LIKE the concept of charging for plastic. For it to be effective, it would have to pinch a bit!
No matter the cost of groceries, everyone can be responsible enough to bring their own bags!

I’ve been using a cloth bag for many years but I still need a plastic bag to use for the cold and/or wet items before placing them in the cloth bag. The bags that I do use are given a second life as a garbage bag. If I did not use the store’s plastic, I would need to buy plastic trash bags for the garbage.

A tax on bags is fine with me, I’m tired of the plastic clogging up our world, using a cloth reusable bag isn’t that big of an inconvienience. America is getting lazy and we take our world for granted.

just ban plastic bags. then, ban paper bags. it would take very few trips to the store by people who “forgot” to bring their own bags to make them remember to do so. this has nothing to do with the rich and the poor. anyone who says this is equating low income with stupidity. costco and sam’s club don’t provide bags, and their lots are always full of people loading huge amounts of stuff into vehicles. i don’t think that lack of free bags will hurt business. bags last a long time. some of mine are 30 years old!

Has this been well studied? Does ABC support it? Cloth bags absorb fluid contaminations … from fruits and vegetables. HOW MUCH RISK WILL THIS MEAN TO NATIONAL HEALTH … WHEN DIRTY CONTAMINATED BAGS ARE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR FRESH FOODS?

As soon as we stop using plastic to package all the goods we buy. It is a farse to start at the cash register and not the shelf.

I think assessing a tax for using something other than re-useable bags would definitely be a good thing. Right now, I use the plastic bags and the paper bags and I keep them (don’t throw them in the trash), but I always forget to take them to the grocery store with with. Assessing a tax would fix that! The only thing I think the stores should do is to give people who have saved those plastic bags a credit toward purchasing the re-useable bags if they turn the plastic bags in.

Paper or plastic? Once again ABC News thinks the rest of actually care about “San Francisco values” and place the “environment” above people. So what if thousands of trees are cut to make paper bags? How many jobs does the paper industry provide to men in the woods, truckers, plant workers and store employees? Compared to billions of trees that are allowed to burn each year, (whatta a carbon output!)thanks to environmental regulations prohibiting logging already – the bag ‘issue’ is a waste of our time.

As said before, Europe has been doing this for years. We need to step up to the plate. Many stores do give a credit for using my own bag. Now I’m trying to get in the habit of using my own bags in all other stores, not just grocery stores.

Great idea. Tax everything–including wacko ideas like this. No wonder it started in San Francisco. Here in Chicago, we need revenue so bad, the thieves here will tax toilet paper. A better idea would be to cut out the large private jet for Nancy Pelosi–tell her to try video conferencing.

Which is more harmful :
a loaded gun …. in the dump
or
a plastic bag …. in the dump
How many guns are there ?

When I was a child in Philadelphia,PA we had trash and garbage. Trash was collected in front of the house and it was clean. Garbage was wet and it was collected from the back of the house. The garbage was emptied into a truck and taken to the pig farms in NJ. I am willing to purchace cloth bags for my groceries but what about trash cans and garbage?

I wholeheartedly agree that we should pay something for each plastic or paper bag we take out of the grocery stores. How difficult can it be to get used to always bring a bag INTO the store to put the groceries into? They have done it in European countries for years and nobody complains. Some stores here already pay me for each bag I bring in. If I only buy one item, I don’t take a bag but carry it out to my car in my hands. Thanks for letting me have my say. I think this is a very important issue.
Margit Kohl

It is not about the government taking your rights or telling you what to do it is about making less of an impact on the environment! Using cloth bags is easy, and thy dont break before you get home with them. On a recent trip to Ireland they charged 33 cents each and we followed the natives and used a cloth bag. It was simple, try it before you complain.

Typically fast growing hybrid trees are planted, grown, and harvested for paper bags. Virgin forests are not cut down for paper. paper is biodegradeable and supporst jobs in the paper and forest industries.
We use cloth but paper is better then plastic.

I use the store cloth bags or bring my own for shopping. The one thing that really bothers me is that the consumer isn’t the one who started the usage of the plastic bags. The stores started to use these years ago. I am sure that many consumers would gladly give them up. Perhaps the stores should give consumers the opportunity to purchase their cloth bags at a discount rate for a week or something like that.

America seems to have no shortage of really BAD IDEAS lately. I would not pay for that at all. Nada. Don’t even ask me. I already recycle every single plastic and paper bag I get by using them as trash bags. That’s what my local municipality demands — organize your trash in a bag or they won’t take it. So now I am supposed to buy bigger plastic bags for the trash? Why? Can’t someone launch a business making something useful out of recycled plastic or paper bags? Can’t the be manufactured in such a way that they break down fast in landfills? Why is the only solution to charge people for them or force us to carry our meat in “sanitary” canvas bags? I vote NO on this Bad Idea.

Typically fast growing hybrid trees are planted, grown, and harvested for paper bags. Virgin forests are not cut down for paper. paper is biodegradeable and supporst jobs in the paper and forest industries.
We use cloth but paper is better then plastic.

Any tax at all would be enough to convince most, but that’s the sacrifice we have to make in these ecologically drastic times.

I am against the use of reuseable shopping bags simply because they have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens. People don’t wash these and the pathogens get on food that won’t be cooked such as vegtables. I don’t have a problem using paper bags, infact I prefer paper bags, but you can’t find them anymore.

I am against the use of reuseable shopping bags simply because they have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens. People don’t wash these and the pathogens get on food that won’t be cooked such as vegtables. I don’t have a problem using paper bags, infact I prefer paper bags, but you can’t find them anymore.

I think its a great idea. People need to recycle everything! Use cloth bags or reuse the plastic bags you already have!!

I am against the use of reuseable shopping bags simply because they have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens. People don’t wash these and the pathogens get on food that won’t be cooked such as vegtables. I don’t have a problem using paper bags, infact I prefer paper bags, but you can’t find them anymore.

I often use reusable bags, but honestly – if they are going to charge for the use of paper and plastic bags, stores should have to be more responsible for making sure that their employees put more then one item in a bag. If stores took more action in that, it would cut the waste by huge numbers.

We understand cash. To be taxed on “conveniences” that are costly to the environment, not to mention wasteful,is a good thing. Aldi (grocery plus) even charges for bags and it is a reminder that I need to shop with cloth bags in my car and remember to USE them. A good and simple thing to do and all together it makes a difference! ReUSE–preach it!

I wonder how many people are carrying home plastic garbage bags in their reusable grocery bags? And how funny is that?
I get my groceries in paper bags (which should be made from recycled paper, not trees)and use them for garbage and to sort my recyclables. My city requires office paper, magazines and newspapers to be sorted and bagged for recycling.
When I build up a stock of paper bags I start using my re-usable bags for groceries – all of which I got free, mostly as giveaways at the State Fair.
I rarely get plastic grocery bags but when I do I add them to my probably endless supply and use them for picking up after my dogs. I’m pretty sure I still have 15 year old bags from when the daily newspaper was always bagged for delivery (Washington Post.)
And I’m already paying a tax because most of the stores I shop at give a discount for bringing your own bag.

Aaarg…was is public demand that implemented the use of plastic grocery bags??? Monumental, forced changes almost invariably start with someone in a government office who has way too much time on their hands. Now, so many years later, it’s the public that is blamed for using what was foisted upon us. And, as usual, in the name of solving a problem that it created, it’s the government that wants to add a tax to again enforce a change on the hapless people.

yes yes yes

I think its a great idea! people waste way too much plastic. its stays in landfills FOREVER. use cloth bags or reuse the plastic bags everyone already has in a cabinet!!

Typically fast growing hybrid trees are planted, grown, and harvested for paper bags. Virgin forests are not cut down for paper. paper is biodegradeable and supporst jobs in the paper and forest industries.
We use cloth but paper is better then plastic.

How about no taxes…just STOP producing the bags! Shoppers would learn quickly to bring their own cloth bags if no other bags were available. This is such a simple solution.
However, for those people who have no ecological conscience, a .50 @ bag tax would get their attention and stop the wasteful convenience.

Whenever I have plastic grocery bags I reuse them for my daily trash and used kitty litter, so I never have a surplus. Then I hardly ever have to buy large or small plastic trash bags. Is there a better alternative for bagging trash?

Its not bad enough that I have to pay to dispose of my trash; now they want me to pay for the bags to put my trahs in. When will it stop. I haven’t worked in two years and I can’t afford regular trash bags. I guess I’ll just start throwing my trash over the hill…

I use reusable bags a lot of the time. I also re-use my plastic bags from the grocery store to pick up my dogs poo in the neighborhood and yard. If I have to start buying bags jusut to pick up poo that would be annoying.

Has all the politicians in every state gone out of there minds in Washington DC? Who was the insane person that came up with a bag tax?
I Wish the politicians would put there taxes where the sun dont shine!
Every little thing you can put a tax on is being done in the United States are we going to stand for there BS any longer we are being tax to death!
How on earth can we afford to pay for our homes or cars if we have to pay all these tax?
What good was it for President Obama to give all us a tiny tax break when you going to take it away on another tax?
We didn’t screw up this country!
The Federal Government did!
what else would the government makes us pay more tax on next? A bag tax now you got to be kidding!If I wasn’t so mad about taxes,I would laugh in your face!The Federal Government pulling at straws now because of all the bailout money spend nothing to back it up!Right It will fall in the taxpayers lap it never fails to do so!

I think this is just another excuse for the government to tax. I use my plastic bags for my garbage. What about all those plastic bags people buy to put their garbage in? Why not tax all the plastic milk,soda,cat litter,bread,lettuce bags/containers too?

I use reusable bags, i think it is a great idea to tax for use of paper or plastic bags. Reusable bags are $1. If we don’t do something like tax people no one will ever change.

I think this is just another excuse for the government to tax. I use my plastic bags for my garbage. What about all those plastic bags people buy to put their garbage in? Why not tax all the plastic milk,soda,cat litter,bread,lettuce bags/containers too?

On the report tonight was show virgin timber being cut to make pulp to produce paper bags. Trees used in the making of pulp for paper bags and other paper products are generaly grown on industry and private tree farms. The tree farm is harvested like other crops and re-planted to be harvested again.
It is a bio-degradable and replenished resource.

I live in Southeast Wisconsin and here you are charged 10 cents per bag although most people do not see it because if you use your own bags you get the 10 cents off for each bag you have. Do people not think that they are paying for the bags anyway? I am tired of hearing the excuse “I’m poor and can’t afford it.” Cloth bags sold at the stores start at 50 cents. Laundry basket works as a bag as well. I say $1 tax per bag.

Charging for bags is the great idea, go SF for being a leader. This is how we can get conservation started in the smallest ways and the ordinary person can participate in. I use reuseable bags already and they cost as little as a 1.00 in some stores. For those of you that thinks this is a bad idea, shame on you, we need to save this planet. We need to do it on our own or we pay for it.

I use cloth bags but what am I supposed to use for disposing of kitty waste; and what should dog walkers, who are required to scoop, use??? all stores, including department stores, use plastic bags…I refuse bags when I have forgotten my cloth bags, which often end up in my husband’s car; to carry it further, do away with plastic diapers, etc. etc. 5 cents each sounds
right…

I use cloth bags when I haven’t fogotten them at home, or refuse a plastic bag…but what am I supposed to use when scooping kitty litter…and what about dog walkers who are required to pick up waste???
5 cents per bag sounds right…but let’s do away with ALL bags…department stores, etc., not to mention plastic diapers.

This is probably the most ridiculous idea ever. Have we become so panicky and ignorant that we are willing to do anything in the name of “being green”. If environmentalists think this is such a good idea, they can pay my share of the bag tax, because I’m not.
I live in DC and have actually carried groceries out in my arms to avoid the tax. Btw, according to NRDC most re-usable bags purchased are never used and the energy and resources needed to make just 1 re-usable bag is the equivalent of making 1000 plastic bags.

I shake my head every time I hear this debate because it’s so STUPID. Just last year, I was amazed by the number of MORONS on line at a NYC Whole Foods at 5am, in the pouring rain, all because they started selling a canvas shopping bag. Clearly, it was more about a fad and being seen than saving the Earth. And it takes minimal thinking to see why…
Who said that plastic shopping bags need to be thrown out immediately? We reuse every one of them to hold the trash. You can simply use a small trash can (which can be emptied daily) or a special frame made specifically to hold grocery bags (see link below). What amazes me are people who complain about grocery bags yet don’t give a second thought to buying plastic trash bags. Not only is that a waste of money but trash bags are also worst on the environment because their extra thickness requires added plastic.
And frankly, there is no good alternative to plastic trash bags. Since kitchen trash is often wet, not using a bag is not an option. Think about the environmental impact of using detergents to clean the unlined trash bin, not to mention the wasted time and money. And paper bags won’t hold in moisture. So clearly, plastic bags are necessary for the garbage.
Which is better for your wallet and the environment: Re-using plastic grocery bags or buying new trash bags? It’s a no brainer and something my barely-educated immigrant parents have been doing for decades.
Toting around a dirty reusable canvas bag simply means you need to buy trash bags. And dirty food since canvas absorbs odors and germs.
So again, I don’t understand the debate at all, and the maligning of plastic grocery bags. I wish lawmakers would just think before proposing these stupid taxes to cover their governmental waste.
Here’s a rather nice frame to use grocery bags. I’ve seen others for as little as $5.99
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14071520

I like the cloth bags. Of course, like anything, there are some that are much better quality than others.
I know of one of the BIG chains in the Denver area that gives a credit for bringing in your own bag….I think that should be offered by more stores.
shirley
http://www.proorganizer.com

I would not enjoy another tax at the store. I would use my reusable bags when shopping as opposed to paying an additonal tax.

I already use reuseable bags, but would use them more often as opposed to an additional tax.

I think it’s sad but a great idea, way to go SF and DC for being leaders in this conservation approach. Sad because many americans should be doing these little things without the business or gov’t getting involved. As americans we need to be leaders in this effort to save the planet. I use my reuseable bags and they cost only a 1.00 in some stores. This isn’t a hard thing for us to do. I feel bad for those who think it’s an attack on them personally.

Here’s a much better idea: Stores (or food chains) voluntarily discount a nickle for each cloth bag you use. No government interference, no mandates on the businessman. I’d give priority to that store, not so much for the nickle or two, but that it’s a business that’s helping with a problem without being given a mandate.

Plastic bags should be taxed at least at 50 cents a bag!
Gad people buy a reusable, or merchants should be required to hand them out.
I live in a windy climate in eastern Colorado and in winter especially they are seen blowing in the trees, along the fences, and along every highway all year long. If people were not so careless they would not have to be taxed.
The fact notwithstanding they can choke eagles, hawks, and other tree nesting animals who use them to biuld nests by mistake.
Why is it in Canada they make a bag just as firm made of cornstarch and wood chips that desolves in the rain, and the Safeway stores in the US cannot do it?
Save the oil, save the environment from unsightly litter.
BAN ALL PLASTIC BAGS NOW !!

I already use reusable bags because we need to do as much as we can to thwart the effects from climate change. This is something simple you can do, and we need to be much more aggressive about facing and dealing with this issue than most people are. Many people feel like it will not have much of an effect on them in their lifetime, and aren’t doing much to change what they do. We need to be a lot less disposable- minded than we are, and not using plastic bags is a little step that will hopefully lead to more people doing more things to reduce our effect on our environment. Ignoring it is what got us in this position in the first place. It is unwise to continue to ignore it.

What about people like me who recycle plastic bags? I don’t want to be taxed!!!

Omigawd, I agree 100% with Sam at 7:50pm! I saw the same news report about those idiots in NYC. It was REALLY pouring rain yet the line went around the block at 5am! All for a stupid canvas bag that wasn’t even free.
The report also said that several people got trampled when the bag went on sale in Hong Kong. I guess stupidity is international!
Seriously, it’s all about vanity and being seen with that stupid logo (something like ‘I am not a plastic bag’). Recyclable canvas and plastic shopping bags have been around for decades, i.e. Lilian Vernon catalogs. Where were all those idiots then? Was the Earth less important because canvas bags weren’t chic yet? Geez!

I walk or take public transportation everywhere – so I already carry on my person (at all times when out) a backpack full of everything a driver would keep/leave in their car. I stopped shopping at WholeFoods because I can’t carry 4-5 paper sacks of groceries home walking/riding any easier than I could carry around reusables with me at all times just to have them when I stop to shop on the way home. I also reuse my plastic grocery bags in place of the trash bags most others purchase to then throw their trash away in. I haven’t purchased a box of plastic trash bags in at least a decade – but no one’s talking about outlawing those. This debate has felt like a feel good issue from the beginning…those burning up fossil fuel to and from the grocery stores can feel a little better for not loading their vehicles up w/plastic or paper grocery bags….but it leaves all those either reliant on or choosing to use public transport and their own legs and feet up a creek. I suppose I could simply cut back my grocery/shopping consumption to cover the tax, or to not have to cart around as many reusables as I’d need. Say, King Soopers offers back a small credit for every reusable used in place of a paper or plastic store bag – inspiring those w/vehicles to do so since it saves them money while still not alienating those using public transport or walking and hoping to buy more than 10 items at a time…..perhaps not as radical or back pat worthy, but it seems to work well – and they’ve kept me and others as customers…..if I only buy a few items I take the credit and pack the items in my backpack – if more items, I take the plastic bags and then use them for trash bags.

Do you think the grocery store will quit selling Glad, Hefty or Zip Lock plastic garbage bags? Of course not… so if we don’t get them for free we will buy them. This is just another way for the government to get more money to mis-manage and increase control on us! If you think they are going to use a bag tax for environmental causes you probably also believed that loto funds would increase education funding… I would pay ZERO. Fools, you follow like sheep!!! WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

How will poultry be packaged? It’s packed in plastic containers and leaks at tmes. Putting packaged poultry in
canvas bags is not sanitary at best and can lead to cross-contamination when packaged with tomatoes, apples,peppers, etc. in same bag.If people are serious about pollution why not start with the 3 most common items at landfills: news
papers,food containers and disposable diapers (each requiring 8-oz. of oil in its manufacture)?

No More Taxes…Read my plastic bags

A few months ago I started using reusable bags . I even bought a large purse that can hold several of the bags. I like the ones that snap shut …they are more compact.
I am still surprised how many people are still bagging in plastic.
Yes Yes Yes…a tax ….! Great idea. …I think that will be just the encouragement need by shopperes.

I cant believe they are going to tax me for bags. I guess if all I used was one bag like you showed, that would be fine, but most of America have a family of four. I usually use 10 bags or more and most of them are doupled because the bags are so thin. I agree we show do something but please don’t charge me more money, my groceries are quite enough.

YES! I think the tax is an excellent idea!

Simple answer:
We must be responsible citizens of our global environment. Is it too much for us to carry our own reusable bags to the store. Large shopping clubs don’t give bags, just boxes if you choose to use them. Why in the world would global citizens continue to destroy our planet for conveniences. Use your heart and save mother nature before she kicks our asses. Be responsible for everything you do, it’s the only way to save ourselves and our only planet which we call home.

For the lady that can not afford to buy bags. Why not reuse the plastic and paper bags you can? Each time you shop buy one bag a visit. I have purchased bags for a $1.00 ea at Whole Foods. They are affordable. Times are hard but a little goes a long way.

i use plastic grocery bags for trash so i don’t have to buy trash bags which are also made of plastic. i think a better way would be to give incentives for people who bring their plastic bags to a proper disposal facility like they do for plastic bottles.

Our city garbage men require that trash be bagged. Currently I use the grocery bags to do this. If I go to cloth bags for groceries I will have to buy plastic bags for the garbage. I can’t win.

how many people are going to wash green bags after each use. consider sweat from milk containers, meat package leakage, a squashed grape etc. , building up bacteria in these bags. in addition dirt and bacteria from vehicle trunks, bus floors, roach and insect larva transferable on paper and cloth – will then be brought into the store to be placed on the same checkout counters where you are placing your purchases. we are sanitizing our hands but we are going to put food in unsanitized bags. the bags are a convenience for the store as customers will buy more and they are already an expense covered in our cost . what about incineration or compaction of plastic bags that are not recycled for garbage as many if us do in place of buying ruffies or heftys. let’s remember health safty we just got over a pandemic scare.

i thank it was the environmentalist who pushed the plastic bag to start with,over papper bags. so let them pay for it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am against this

I’ve used my own tote bags for a long time; it’s long past time the US started pulling its own environmental weight. We’re drowning in toxic plastic we’ve thrown away. The earth carries us on her back every day. Is this too much to do in return? So many objections to acting sensibly & responsibly. Think creatively & look for information, folks. This isn’t a tax on the poor. Use your own .99 tote for groceries. If you need plastic bags to sort recyclables into, get free plastic buckets instead from any restaurant. Reuse your own small plastic & paper grocery bags. Buy biodegradeable garbage bags. BTW, someone touted tree farms that supply wood pulp for bags as being good for the environment? Not really.

I think the U.S. should use Germany as a guide. Their Grocery stores do not provide ANY containers for your groceries. You bring your own bags or boxes. Let us do that while we still have some trees left.
Suedell Powell

We should do what they do in Holland — sell the bags. If you forget to bring a bag, you purchase one from a vending machine. We paid half a Euro a bag. It was rather pricey, but we used it several times.

I have been using cloth bags over a year, we need to not to be so wastefull, and care about the earth. Ralphs supermarket in CA does give a 5 cent credit when you use cloth.

I use cloth shopping bags and put them inside each other and put them in my shopping cart. I bag my own items and even have a thermal bag for my dairy items. I’m doing my part. The grocery stores should be fined for having them
given to you automaticly at a regular check out line. At home I use paper bags and line them with foil and wax paper so there is no leaks. I make my own bags for my smaller pails in my bathroom from wax paper. I get my cold cuts and cheeses put in wax paper not plastic and transfer to rubbermaid or tupperware containers at home. I took all my old plastic bags and wrapped my Christmas ornaments in them so they wouldn’t break and packed them away. I live in a small town so my garbage pickup is once a week. I put my paper bags in a large lawn leaf paper bag and put it in my pail for garbage pickup. I DO MY PART AT THE STORES AND AT HOME. Let the grocery stores get taxed. They pack meat in plastic should I pay for that too! I didn’t ask
for plastic. Why should I pay.

MANUFACTURERS neeed to be held responsible for all of their plastic packaging.

People are so concerned about convenience and not about the planet…interesting. I wonder if people will not care when the plastic pags cant be disposed of anywhere esle but by using eminent domain and destroy your homes to make a new dump. Its not that hard to bring a bag. We all have all sorts layin around the house. Ill even carry things in hand or in my pockets. No biggie to loose the plastic and paper so I can do my part. And if i really need a bag for some strange reason… 5 cents is not gonna kill me. Its a choice, u make it.

I re-use the plastic bags to hold dog feces and I re-use the paper bags to line the bottom of a bird cage.

Environmentalists are responsible for the many increased costs levied upon us through higher taxes and more government mandates.

I really think that the stores should pay for the tax for the plastic bags that they buy to provide the shopper. The stores should offer some kind of discount for shoppers that bring in their own bags. Maybe, give the shoppers a 10 cents or more off, if they bring in a bag. I think any discount off your purchases will make people recycle and reuse things. It would also encourage people to not waste and use plastic bags and that will in return reduce plastic bags in our world. It is the stores that are making all of these problems to our world happen. If they use different forms of packing our items, we will follow. So, let the stores pay for the rubbish that they started in our world and let them end it.

Come on folks! I’m for cleaning up the environment as much as anybody, but I support doing it without having money flow into municipal coffers. In this case it often turns out to be just a revenue grab with a phony green face. It would be much more appropriate for stores to eliminate the offending bags. Let the stores worry about the economics and keep the revenue grabbers out of it.

Groceries are sky high now and we do not need to pay for paper or plastic. Maybe we should eliminate the plastic and go back to paper only, like it used to be before we had any problems. There should not be a tax or charge.

I’ve purchased cloth bags for use at my favorite grocery store, and they’ve already paid for themselves because I get a 5-cent credit for every bag I bring. I wish all stores would do this – it would encourage more people to bring their own bags.

Shopper’s has the right idea! Each time I use my re-usable bags they GIVE ME FIVE CENTS. That’s money in my pocket and one less bag in a landfill. j

I already pay extra for Curbside Recycling each month… Wouldn’t it be a little ridiculous to have to pay a tax on paper or plastic bags that I’m already paying to have recycled!

This is a terrible idea. Plastic bags are fully recyclable. All a person has to do is bring them back to the store they got them from and put them in the bins. Reusable bags carry lots of bacteria from using them over and over. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER TAX!

I don’t have a problem using recyclable bags, however, then what am I supposed to put my garbage in? The plastic bags sold for garbage are not environmentally friendly, are they? I also hope that if bags will be taxed that the baggers at the stores are properly trained. I don’t want to pay for numerous bags that only have a couple of items in them.

If you are still resisting using reusable grocery bags you should use your favorite search engine and type “plastic bags oceans”. If that does not change your mind, then maybe we can bury you in a landfill at the end of your life. It is estimated there are approx. 40000 pieces of plastic floating around per square mile of ocean. The pics are disgusting and make me ashamed to be human.

In my opinion, grocery stores should not be offering either paper or plastic bags. Get rid of them altogether! Most grocery stores in my area (upstate New York) offer nice sized reusuable bags for as little as $.99 a bag. For an investment of $5-$6, it’s way more convenient to use these bags than to have to deal with a ton of plastic or paper bags. And even if people don’t want to make that investment, they could just reuse the tons of plastic bags they must have floating around their house!

I reuse the plastic bags at home in my trash cans in the bathrooms and on the dryer. What am I supposed to to, empty them in the trash can outside and let the trash men pour the stuff all over the road? How many cloth bags am I going to have to buy to load $100 – 200 worth of groceries. We are in a RECESSION. Give us a break and go after something else!

Just stop giving out paper or plastic bags in grocery stores and people will bring their own.

Kudos to SF for eliminating plastic bags altogether. At a minimum, there should be a tax on plastic and paper bags. I have been using cloth bags for several months now and it isn’t a hardship. It simply involves a change in behavior.

I REUSE my plastic bags as trash liners, otherwise I’d have to BUY new ones for that purpose. I also REUSE my bags to stuff my kids poopy diapers in them! I don’t want to buy more to do the same!

Anyone heard about the high rate of salmonella posioning lately? A recent study concluded that the bacteria came from re-using the reusable grocery bags. Folks are buying their meat, putting it in the bags, and raw meat juices are contaminating the bags. Nice. The post re the “paper farms” is correct, bags are not made from trees outside of farms. We stop using paper, the tree farmers go out of buiness. I reuse my plastic bags and recycle them, so how am I hurting the environment? Only the “sheeple” will swallow this one, it’s just another tax for the government to get more money from us. And far from helping the environment, it’s going to put genuinely “green” workers out of business. Great plan.

we get taxs enough the govment takeing over we dont even own the home you buy if you dont paid taxs on it they get it too next they will taxes us for air

Just another way for them to make poor people poorer

Ridiculous. Paper is a renewable resource. Trees are cut down and more trees are planted. Trees aren’t just disappearing. It’s in logging companies’ best interest to keep forests plentiful. Why would we hurt their livelyhood for no good reason? This is just an excuse for the government to reach into our pockets and try to make us feel good about taking more of our money by scaring us and labeling it an “environmental” issue.

im a cashier at a drug store, and when you work retail you tend to learn alot about people in general. the one thing that annoys me to no end is when someone buys one thing like mascara or a bottle of Tylenol, and they ask for a bag even though they have a giant purse. and then when i put it in the bag they carry it by the item in the bag not by the handles. i just see that as completely useless. i always give the customers a pat on the back when they say that they brought their own bag or dont need one. i have also noticed how companies use as much cardboard as possible to take up the most shelf space. i defiantly think that this needs to be regulated as well.

If you don’t want people to buy nuclear material, you just don’t make it available. You wouldn’t put on the market for sale with high taxes!
If you don’t want to pollute the environment with plastic or paper bags, you would offer alternatives without options to use Plastic and Paper… Although Paper will breakdown. If it is not available as a choice, we won’t pollute the environments. The same goes for plastic packaging; if you don’t want to pollute the environment, manufactures should use other methods such as rice based fillers and biodegradable packages.
Don’t blame the consumer. My vote, do not tax; but, stop making it available. That saves money for everybody as well as the environment.

I don’t know if I’m in favor of a tax for shopping bags. I think what we need a social awareness rather than a tax…whatever works. One one hand I’m staunchly in favor; I’ve hated those @&%! things since day one. Except for maybe cost, there is absolutely nothing to its advantage. But on the other hand, at $7-10 a pop in most places no one is making it any easier to switch to a reusable fabric one. I was lucky enough to purchase one for about $1.50 and I found one. But I want an inocuious bag that isn’t green and/or have some cutsey eco-slogan.

Cloth bags? I don’t oppose them but just how many cloth bags do you think would be needed for a weekly shopping trip to the supermarket for a typical family? Or is the idea that everyone should shop daily and buy only enough to fill one of those bags each time. Environmental impact of all of that driving back and forth?

To avoid the tax, simply spend $5 on 5 cloth bags that you can use for the rest of your life. This is seriously not a hindrance to anyone. Or, pull out some bags that you have lying in your attic. Nation of convenience or not, it’s easy and it just makes sense.

Does this idea pass the LOGIC test? Below are a list of facts and the pros and cons which should have been in the story. Poor, agenda driven reporting seems to be the norm for ABC “news” or propaganda, the latter seems to fit better.
Facts:
1) Logically if a product is scientifically proven to be lasting danger to people and permanently to the environment, then just BAN THE PRODUCT. This is just another ploy to tax the people by government under the guise of “protecting the environment”.
2) FACT: The plastic bag will degrade! Especially under sunlight, they are designed that way.
3) FACT: Many stores have recycling for the plastic bags. Alternative to a tax would be a discount for bringing the bags back to the store. (but then the poor govt doesn’t get a cut)
4) FACT: The paper bags will degrade and are also recyclable.
5) FACT: Tress Regrow and there are Tree Farms for this reason. More trees are killed for printing and writing paper and boxes. (do you want to tax all those too?)
6) FACT: There are other plastic “bags” used in a grocery store for sanitary reasons: i.e. the bags used for produce and meats. Are they included in the Tax, as they are more likely to be thrown away and not reused?
Pro’s:
1) Reduce or eliminate use of plastic bags at checkout. Reduces plastic bags and paper bags in landfills.
2) If GOVT is doing this for the correct reasons then Tax revenue can be used to reduce the cost of permanent bags (directly at the store), but this seems unlikely since govt want to control.
3) Reduces trees being cut down.
4) May reduce prices of goods at the store since the store no longer needs to purchase the bags or in less quantity*
5) Short term increase of production of reusable bags (but may be made in China), thus new hires will be needed until saturation, then fall off to current levels to maintain.
*Cost of goods will most likely not change.
Con’s:
1) Taxes people so that they can not spend money elsewhere (disposable income reduction). This will hurt the economy.
2) Reduces demand for plastic bags and Paper bags, thus the companies that produce these items will be forced to layoff people. This will hurt the economy.
3) Tree farm land no longer in use may be sold and clear cut for farm land or development, thus not as good for environment? Potentially hurts environment.
4) Spontaneous buying will be greatly reduced. Mall scenario… would you go and buy clothes in a department store spontaneously if you did not happen to have your “green” bag? This will hurt the economy.
5) People will have to spend extra on secondary uses of these bags, meaning less money to spend elsewhere (disposable income reduction). This will hurt the economy.
6) Must have several reusable bags always in your vehicle for unplanned store stops: Home Depot, CVS, Quicky marts, Best Buy, etc. This will mean that those bags will deteriorate faster (Heat damages)! Also, do you really want to use the same bag for groceries as bug spray and weed killer?
7) Are there unintended consequences like with CFL (mercury)? Reusable bags… are they recyclable (most are low priced are Plastic too! non- woven polypropylene -made in china)? Is there a program in place? how long does it take reusable bags to degrade in landfills?
8) Shop lifting may increase since all people will be carrying non-see though bags in all stores. This will increase cost of all goods. This will hurt the economy.
Conclusion:
There are other ways of influencing people to use reusable bags, such as recycle credits. The proper type of Reusable bag must be used since many are currently plastic and will cause just as much of a “problem” and will not degrade as quickly as the current bags. Cloth bags leak and you will still have to use bags to hold produce and meats. Do these bags get taxed too since they are unavoidable? From the pros and cons list, the economy will be affected negatively with the tax method.
I just wish that ABC did their job put in as much effort as I did, which is not much, to look at this idea from all angles. I just wish that Govt did the same!

I think its absolutely absurd. To tax already struggling consumers is ridiculous. Especially this new walmart bag swap in California. They are selling reusable PLASTIC bags for 15 cents. Most of the pollution created by plastic bags is in the manufacturing methods especially in the creation of “nettles” or whatever they’re called.
Corporations spend over 4 billion dollars a year purchasing plastic bags they give away free. So are the corporations that are charging for they new bags going to lower their prices of products since they are now 4 billion dollars more profitable.. NO! They are still going to charge the same thing. This is the definition of greed. “Save the environment” is just a ploy by all corporations to make you think they are turning green, yeah they are turning green sucking it right out of your wallet.