Baltimore City Considering Plastic Bag Tax
This is a local news story out of Baltimore, MD that could affects all shoppers. In an attempt to clean up the streets of Baltimore of plastic bags, the Baltimore City counsel is proposing 25¢ tax on every bag used in stores. Councilman Bill Henry is the bill’s sponsor and had this to say about the bill:
Those bags end up in our trees, in our fences, eventually in our gutters, in our storm drains, and in our harbor. It would just be easier if people didn’t take them
This comes after Washington D.C. levied a 5¢ on all non-reusable bags. There are some hurdles that councilman Henry faces including objections from several members of the council including the president.
This bill seems really great on the surface: let’s tax a product so that people won’t use it and in turn help our environment. That picture seems really cheery, but the problem is that people should not have to pay for it. It may encourage people to use less plastic bags, but why not start a program to distribute reusable bags or ban plastic bags all together like in Westport Connecticut. Why must we get taxed to help save our environment?
The truth behind bills like these are that the government is trying to get more tax money from people and use the “green” movement as a cover up. In my opinion, lawmakers are acting just as bad as businesses making false green claims just to make a larger profit. They may have better intentions than businesses, but it still ends up hurting the consumers in the end.
Share Your Thoughts
How do you feel about taxing plastic bags and any alternatives (if any) that you may feel are better than a tax.
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Unfortunately, people get used to taxes … it’s jut one more thing that we have to pay more for. I think it would be far more effective to give people an incentive, like give them 25 cents off their grocery bill for bringing their own bag.
As you said, it seems less about the environment and more about sneaky taxes.
I’ve written a post on plastic bags today … actually it’s my second green challenge in a series I call “Change The World Wednesdays”. If you have a moment, I hope you’ll stop by!
Take Care!
Small Footprints
I 100% agree, the government has some underhanded ways of making money, yet still looking like the good guys. On the flip side, money is a motivator, but it shouldn’t be the primary reason people choose to live green. A few things I like about green bags are durability, size, comfort when carrying long distances. I think the benefits that I discussed should be spread. Perhaps commercials should be made in the infomercial style showing peoples plastic bags splitting, blisters on their hands and not being able to cram enough groceries into it haha
Great point SingleViews. Money is a huge motivator and could make people switch to using reusable bags fairly quickly.
I agree with the tax for plastic bags. I want to avoid using plastic bags. We need to care for keeping our world green with many good actions.
Yeah taxes is not the best way, but… I thought in a few years from now that plastic bags will be banned all together across the USA? That’s what I heard last year. Or is this not true?
Till then,
Jean
I think this is a good idea. Or, if not this, they should give tax incentives to businesses that encourage customers to bring in their own bags. I think that giving incentives or charging for bags will make more people conscious of the issue and they will start bringing their own bags thus creating less waste.