Who knew? Bag fee is a scam

[Anonymous]

So the extra $0.05 retailers are supposed to charge doesn't actually go to clean anything up. Thanks nanny state.

[Anonymous]

Thanks vague poster with no links to back your claim up, or tell us if you're talking about DC or MD.

You're awesome.

[Anonymous]

It is not a remediation fee. The idea is that if you have to say ok to the charge, you will think twice about using bags. There are conflicting studies about whether this works, ranging in conclusion from "extremely effective" to "useless."

[Anonymous]

Dont know if its a scam but happy im in pg county

[Anonymous]

Works for me. I've seen a huge decrease in plastic bags along the side of the road in the not so great part of MoCo I live in. Some stores even give me a .05 credit for bringing my own bag.

[Anonymous]

I read the same WaPo article as you, OP. And when I read it, I thought, Huh? It's obviously been working, I've noticed a huge decrease in plastic bags littering the ground and the rivers.

[Anonymous]

The goal of the the fee is behavior modification, i.e. reducing the number of bags people take, not fundraising.

[Anonymous]

Of course its another money maker for the gov't. Its really annoying to have to carry bags, lug a kid or two, stroller, diaper bag, etc. I'm all for being environmental and regardless often carried my own bags but at times its difficult.

[Anonymous]

Link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The goal of the the fee is behavior modification, i.e. reducing the number of bags people take, not fundraising.

+1

It's become habit to keep a reusable bag with me. It's nearly instinct now, and not at all an inconvenience. And +1 for the 5-cents you often get for bringing your own bag. It's small, but a nice tiny perk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course its another money maker for the gov't. Its really annoying to have to carry bags, lug a kid or two, stroller, diaper bag, etc. I'm all for being environmental and regardless often carried my own bags but at times its difficult.

You don't have room for a nickel in your diaper bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Link?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/nickel-by-nickel-is-the-dc-bag-fee-actually-saving-the-anacostia-river/2015/05/09/d63868d2-8a18-11e4-8ff4-fb93129c9c8b_story.html?tid=HP_more?tid=HP_more

[Anonymous]

I read the article and it does sounds like it's cleaning things up. I live in the District and it's ingrained behavior to bring a bag now. I see a lot fewer bags floating around or stuck in drains now. As far for funding field trips for DC kids to visit the Anacostia watershed and funding the program to make the clean up happen, that's fine by me. What's not to like? If you DON'T like it, and don't care about the environment or children, bring a bag. Win win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the extra $0.05 retailers are supposed to charge doesn't actually go to clean anything up. Thanks nanny state.

Just take your own bag, already. Canvas bags are much sturdier and can hold much more than the flimsy plastic grocery bags anyway. Even if you don't like the "nanny state," you can't argue w/ the fact that those plastic bags really suck.

[Anonymous]

This article does not paint the program as a scam. I love the end quote about the mermaids.

To me the biggest scam is some vendors, notably Safeway, charging a nickel for a plastic bag so thin you can't use it again, it breaks -- even when they double it. That's a real waste, and should be corrected. Many stores provide bags that can be used again, either for trash or for another purchase. (I do use cloth bags as often as possible.)