Plastic Bag Fee

[Anonymous]

I've never gotten it. Can someone make the case for it?
Also, DC doesn't require recycling bottles or cans, and they seem as bad or even worse than plastic bags.

[Anonymous]

I heard a story on NPR re: when then did the same thing in Ireland, except they eliminated them, not a fee. The consumption of plastic actually increased - people had to buy plastic bags for used diapers and dog poop and the thickness of ziplock-type bags meant that actually more plastic was used.

It seems very easy to get things through the DC City Council.

We recycle but I remain unconvinced that it doesn't just get dumped in the trash as it did for years.

[Anonymous]

Go look in the Anacostia River - that's all the case you need.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I know about the Anacostia River. Though not clear on where all these bags come from, individuals? Will they not still trash the place with purchased bags? I'm not following the reasoning here.

Also, as PP 10:25 notes, what we cannot see are the additional "replacement" bags that end up properly disposed. I know I will be buying more so there's no net gain (ie few bags used) with this consumer/taxpayer/citizen.

[Anonymous]

My plan is to carry a bunch of bags (cloth or plastic, maybe even paper) and/or boxes in the car. Even if I don't have enough and have to buy a bag or two on each trip, I expect I'll throw away far fewer.

I should add, though, that I don't like my local (DC) Safeway, and usually shop in nearby MD. But the DC law at least makes me think about re-using bags.

[Anonymous]

Find answers here:
http://www.trashfreeanacostia.com/index.cgi?page=faq

[Anonymous]

Actually the cashier asking me today if I need a bag at all and how many do I need reminded me that I should bring my reusable bag to the store. I've always been able to do that before but I forgot or felt self-conscious. Now it will become a habit even though I can easily afford to buy a few plastic bags.

That's not a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

I definitely think it's needed and I applaud the law. It drives me crazy when at CVS or a deli the cashier automatically puts the smallest item in a bag when it is so not necessary.

[Anonymous]

I just read an article that scared me to death about reusable bags. You have to be very very careful to double-bag any chicken or other meat, so that no bacteria gets into the bags and thus into your food the next time you use the bag. Also, never use your bag for anything other than food. And you have to wash your bags regularly. The article recommended using bleach.

Yuck. All anyone needs is to get salmonella from reusing a bag that has traces of chicken juice on it.

[Anonymous]

PP here. To clarify, I meant that you need to use double plastic bags for meat and fish so that your REUSABLE bag doesn't get any juices/bacteria on it.

[Anonymous]

Here's one article. You have to wash your bag every time you use it!

http://www.examiner.com/x-16072-Portland-Sustainable-Foods-Examiner~y2009m7d24-Clean-your-reusable-bags-or-risk-food-poisoning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard a story on NPR re: when then did the same thing in Ireland, except they eliminated them, not a fee. The consumption of plastic actually increased - people had to buy plastic bags for used diapers and dog poop and the thickness of ziplock-type bags meant that actually more plastic was used.

It seems very easy to get things through the DC City Council.

We recycle but I remain unconvinced that it doesn't just get dumped in the trash as it did for years.

That's a fundamental difference between a ban and a tax. A tax does not eliminate them. It just puts a cost on the environmental damage they create. This allows people to make rational economic decisions on their part but with the environmental impact factored into their decisions. And many people do not reuse those bags at all, so it can have a big impact on the waste plastic those families discard.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a good thing. But it's difficult getting people to forgo a luxury. It's easier to train them how to do something a certain way from the beginning. Maybe there will be more hope for younger generations to cut out all the waste if they are brought up not doing some things, even just something like not having plastic and paper bags at the store checkout. In some countries you have to bring your own bags because they don't provide bags for you. Though I think in those countries they usually buy less more frequently so they don't have a lot of things to take home in one load.

[Anonymous]

In the abstract it seems like a big deal to charge for something that has been free. But after the uproar dies down, I suspect that most people are going to forget this whole thing and ignore the extra 25 or 50 cents on their $100 Giant, Safeway, or Whole Foods bill.

[Anonymous]

The bags were never free - their cost is just factored into the stuff you buy at the store. Charging a fee is a proven strategy if you want to drive behavior change.

And then when you combine it with cashiers asking people if they need a bag - most people will think twice about whether they need it. I think the big problem was not so much with bags from the grocery store - its the carryout places and corner stores. You don't need a plastic bag if you are buying a bag of chips and a soda.