.05 cent per plastic grocery bag; Virginia environmental imitative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many times does a reusable bag need to be used to offset the environmental impact to produce it? I’m genuinely asking to learn, not trying to be snarky.

Depends on the bag, I’m sure. I’ve had a set of these for 15 years, no joke. They still look new. I’m sure they’ve offset any initial impact of their production. And they’re easily washed in the washing machine, so no germ concerns.

https://www.urbanmarketbags.com/

[Anonymous]

I thought only Montgomery County has the tax on plastic grocery bags and not the rest of the state?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many times does a reusable bag need to be used to offset the environmental impact to produce it? I’m genuinely asking to learn, not trying to be snarky.

Depends on the bag, I’m sure. I’ve had a set of these for 15 years, no joke. They still look new. I’m sure they’ve offset any initial impact of their production. And they’re easily washed in the washing machine, so no germ concerns.

https://www.urbanmarketbags.com/

these bags look awful. They are $10. The sides collapse. The grocery store has bags with stiffer sides and are selling them at a discount for the new year. They hold tons of items and the sides stay up. They made loading the car a breeze even compared to the old free plastic bags which always collapsed and spilled over on the drive home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During a pandemic is an excellent time to do this!

" There is evidence... that reusable grocery bags, a common substitute for plastic bags, contain potentially harmful bacteria. We examine emergency room admissions related to these bacteria in the wake of the San Francisco ban. We find that ER visits spiked when the ban went into effect. Relative to other counties, ER admissions increase by at least one fourth, and deaths exhibit a similar increase."

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2196481

They are machine washable. I wash mine twice a year and have a separate one for meat. I use the canvas ones that last a long time (I have never replaced them, 8 years on). If you are concerned, at least rinse them in bleachy water and hang them out to dry. Also, regular detergent kills most pathogens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many times does a reusable bag need to be used to offset the environmental impact to produce it? I’m genuinely asking to learn, not trying to be snarky.

Depends on the bag, I’m sure. I’ve had a set of these for 15 years, no joke. They still look new. I’m sure they’ve offset any initial impact of their production. And they’re easily washed in the washing machine, so no germ concerns.

https://www.urbanmarketbags.com/

these bags look awful. They are $10. The sides collapse. The grocery store has bags with stiffer sides and are selling them at a discount for the new year. They hold tons of items and the sides stay up. They made loading the car a breeze even compared to the old free plastic bags which always collapsed and spilled over on the drive home.

They’re shaped like the plastic bags they replace. They don’t need to be stiff. They hold a ton of heavy-weighted things. They are easy to wash, unlike those stiff-sided bags. Mine have lasted years and still look new. Cashiers always comment on how nice they look and how clean they are, especially compared to those reusable bags other people bring in. Plus they fold up small and fit in my purse so I never forget them. Plus they last for years. Like I said, I’ve had mine for 15 years, use them weekly, and they’re still great.

[Anonymous]

You didn't have this until now? Take your own bags I guess. I just pay it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they are going to charge for bags they should make them much better quality like in Europe.

The point is not buying quality bags...the point is to get all this destructive 0lastic out of our environment. The charge in nominal but it get folks to stop and think for half a second about not using more plastic.

All the packaging is crazy. It is virtually impossible to shop at a grocery store without coming home with mountains of plastic.

[Anonymous]

In MoCo, the tax is on plastic AND paper bags, even though paper bags are recyclable, degradable, and made from recycled paper.

The reason? Grocers said if they tax only plastic bags, everyone would just request paper bags and those cost more than plastic bags.

Is the VA tax on paper bags too?

[Anonymous]

They should just ban them already. In my home country they have been banned for many years. Everyone brings their reusable bags and you can buy paper bags. It’s really not a problem.

[Anonymous]

“Bag taxes” are nothing more than the State taking a cut to allow merchants to charge for bags they hate having to give away for free. Even more ridiculous is applying the “tax” to biodegradable paper bags when the ostensible goal is to reduce pollution.

[Anonymous]

All bags should be banned, period.

Bring reusable bags or storage totes to the store. Don’t even give people the option of having bags at all.


That’s how you eliminate plastic pollution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All bags should be banned, period.

Bring reusable bags or storage totes to the store. Don’t even give people the option of having bags at all.


That’s how you eliminate plastic pollution.

Dream on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All bags should be banned, period.

Bring reusable bags or storage totes to the store. Don’t even give people the option of having bags at all.


That’s how you eliminate plastic pollution.

Dream on.

Keep killing the planet. One bag at a time.


Hope you think it’s worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next thing you know you won’t be able to marry your first cousin in Virginia

that why we have our sister in West VA....

so my question is, how do they know how many bags they are gonna use to charge you, Guess? they ususlaly don't finish bagging and then ring up the groceries and there are exemptions...



What types of bags are not subject to this tax?

Durable plastic bags, with handles, that are designed to be used multiple times and are at least 4 mils thick
Plastic bags solely used to wrap, contain or package the following types of goods in order to prevent damage or contamination:
Ice cream
Meat
Fish
Poultry
Produce
Unwrapped bulk food items
Perishable food items
Dry cleaning
Prescription drugs
Multiple bags sold in containers for use as garbage, pet waste, or leaf removal bags

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind if they charge

+2. I don't have to pay the tax. And I have plenty of shopping bags acquired for little or no cost over the years (give aways, etc.)

So, pay and complain if you want. Plastic is a bigger issue that your whining. So cry me a river.