Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the point of charging $.05 for the plastic bag with idea that somehow THAT will keep it from becoming litter. I don’t get this at all. Are people not going to toss it on the ground because it cost a nickel? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

Just ban the damn bags.

It encourages you to bring your own.

I don’t understand the point of charging $.05 for the plastic bag with idea that somehow THAT will keep it from becoming litter. I don’t get this at all. Are people not going to toss it on the ground because it cost a nickel? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

Just ban the damn bags.

My Giant (in Bethesda) uses paper bags for curbside pickup. They use plastic bags for delivery.

Unless a person has a physical limitation, they should not be doing curbside pick up. Bring a bag, pick up what is needed from the store, pay and leave. Problem solved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Montgomery County they charge you and you don't have a choice. Same with restaurant carry out etc. They don't charge you for produce bags, but only for the bags at the register. Customers don't have control over how many bags are used so just roll with it.

Seems to defeat the purpose of reducing consumption...

Yes it will because most people still shop for themselves.

Anonymous wrote:In Montgomery County they charge you and you don't have a choice. Same with restaurant carry out etc. They don't charge you for produce bags, but only for the bags at the register. Customers don't have control over how many bags are used so just roll with it.

Seems to defeat the purpose of reducing consumption...

In Montgomery County they charge you and you don't have a choice. Same with restaurant carry out etc. They don't charge you for produce bags, but only for the bags at the register. Customers don't have control over how many bags are used so just roll with it.

I am working on a new bag technology that will create bags out of paper. The paper will have to be a bit thicker than printer paper but I think it can be done. I am hoping to have R&D done in the next few years.

Anonymous wrote:If you're using curbside pickup and don't have to get out of your car, are you really going to complain about an extra dollar, total? Then go inside and bring your own bags.

+1. The people on this site are ridiculous. “I want someone else to do my grocery shopping for me, but omg what if they use too many bags and I have to pay an extra 5 cents! What if I have to grocery shop myself now!?!” Get a grip lady.

I've had 6-8 reusable bags for the past 10 years that I've used for grocery shopping and runs to places like Target.

I've had one insulated food delivery bag for the past 5 years for carry-out, and -- more recently -- curbside pick-up. The insulated bag I think cost a whopping $10.

I'm in Virginia.

It's beyond easy to ditch the "addiction" to plastic bags. This isn't rocket science, folks.

If you're using curbside pickup and don't have to get out of your car, are you really going to complain about an extra dollar, total? Then go inside and bring your own bags.

Anonymous wrote:It’s 5 cents.

I know, and I generally support decreasing plastic consumption and providing incentives to do that. But this just isn't incentivizing anyone when it comes to curb side pick up. The store isn't paying the tax so they don't care. The customer doesn't control the number of bags, so no reduction in plastic consumption. The tax just seems poorly timed if the intent is really to reduce plastic bag consumption. I know it is hardly the worst of the world's problem.

It’s 5 cents.

Just assume going forward that every purchase has a 50 cent surcharge.

Does anyone know how this tax will be implemented for curbside pick up? The smallest things seem to be put in bags which I wouldn't do if I went into the store myself. And, at one point in the pandemic stores were prohibiting customers from brining their own reusable bags. In general I agree society uses too much plastic, but I don't love the choice between COVID exposure and paying for every.single.bag especially when it seems a store is using an unnecessary number of bags, though Target seems to use a separate bag for each section of the store so I guess it helps them organize themselves. Some stores I shop at do a better job than others, and one has started using paper bags.