Bee-Eazy Reusable Bag Buzz

5-cent Bag Fee Passed in Fairbanks, Alaska

Daily News-Miner 9.11.09

 

Fairbanks, Alaska's Borough Assembly passed a 5-cent bag fee that automatically applies to a few dozen major retailers. The fee is characterized as a "user fee" to address the city's solid waste issues. Revenue from the fee will go toward emerging recycling programs.

 

Read more here.

Daily News-Miner 9.11.09

 

Fairbanks, Alaska's Borough Assembly passed a 5-cent bag fee that automatically applies to a few dozen major retailers. The fee is characterized as a "user fee" to address the city's solid waste issues. Revenue from the fee will go toward emerging recycling programs.

 

Read more here.

5-cent Bag Fee Passed in Fairbanks, Alaska

 
Daily News-Miner 9.11.09

 Fairbanks, Alaska's Borough Assembly passed a 5-cent bag fee that automatically applies to a few dozen major retailers. The fee is characterized as a "user fee" to address the city's solid waste issues. Revenue from the fee will go toward emerging recycling programs.

Read more here.

 

Fairfield CT Proposes Plastic Bag Tax

CT POST - 8.14.09

Fairfield took a step toward joining Westport as the only town in the state to ban most plastic grocery and retail bags.  A measure to stop businesses from using the bags was approved unanimously by the Reusable Bag Ordinance Committee in Fairfield 8/14/09.  The ban is set for approval at the next Representative Town Meeting session September 28th, 2009.  The proposal would allow retailers to use paper bags and plastic bags 28 by 36 inches or larger.  Businesses that fail to comply face an initial fine of $150 from the Solid Waste and Recycling Department with a maximum fine of no more than $1,050 every 90 days.  The town will use funds from an energy efficiency grant to purchase 3,000 reusable bags from the Chamber of Commerce for distribution at various town events.

D.C. will charge 5-cent disposable bag fee in 2010

Washington Business Journal 6.15.09

 “The District gave its final unanimous vote in favor of charging a nickel for each paper and plastic bag that residents get from restaurants, pharmacies and grocers in an effort to clean up the Anacostia watershed… Council members pointed to a recent analysis by the D.C. Department of the Environment, which found that plastic bags make up 20 percent of trash in the Anacostia River and 50 percent of trash in its tributaries. According to that same DDOE report, charging for plastic bags could eliminate up to 47 percent of trash in the tributaries and 21 percent from the river’s main stem.”

Read Full Article

If I had a nickel for every bag,' sez Mayor Bloomberg

The NY Local Daily news 11.07.08 

Mayor Bloomberg wants to nickel and dime you at the grocery store - taxing you an extra 5 cents for every plastic bag you take home.  The controversial charge could raise at least $16 million for the cash-strapped city while keeping tons of plastic out of landfills, city officials said Thursday - but some outraged shoppers aren't buying it.

Link: 'If I had a nickel for every bag,' sez Mayor Bloomberg

L.A. City Council Votes For Ban On Plastic Shopping Bags

Los Angeles Times, 07.23.08

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban plastic carryout bags in the city's supermarkets and stores by July 2010 -- but only if the state fails to impose a 25-cent fee on every shopper who requests them.

Council members said they hope an impending ban would spur consumers to begin carrying canvas or other reusable bags, reducing the amount of plastic that washes into the city's storm drains and the ocean.

"This is a major moment for our city, to bite the bullet and go with something that is more ecologically sensitive than what we've ever done before," said Councilman Bill Rosendahl...

Our Take:  Bravo, California! Los Angeles joins the ranks of San Francisco in reducing plastic bag consumption.  However, the biggest news is not the ban, but that Los Angeles is the first major U.S. city to vote to implement a plastic bag tax, by charging $.25 for “use-and-toss” bags, should the legislature not pass a statewide ban. A similar Plastax in Ireland reduced plastic bag consumption by 90%, and we are really excited to see the first U.S. effort to do the same. Even more importantly, Los Angeles also takes aim at paper bags, sending the message that over consumption of any kind is wasteful.

Los Angeles alone will put a dent in plastic bag consumption by reducing the 2.3 billion plastic bags it uses each year. We hope the city proves to be a model for many more across the nation.

Link: L.A. City Council votes for ban on plastic shopping bags

Los Angeles Times, 07.23.08

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban plastic carryout bags in the city's supermarkets and stores by July 2010 -- but only if the state fails to impose a 25-cent fee on every shopper who requests them.

Council members said they hope an impending ban would spur consumers to begin carrying canvas or other reusable bags, reducing the amount of plastic that washes into the city's storm drains and the ocean.

"This is a major moment for our city, to bite the bullet and go with something that is more ecologically sensitive than what we've ever done before," said Councilman Bill Rosendahl...

Our Take:  Bravo, California! Los Angeles joins the ranks of San Francisco in reducing plastic bag consumption.  However, the biggest news is not the ban, but that Los Angeles is the first major U.S. city to vote to implement a plastic bag tax, by charging $.25 for “use-and-toss” bags, should the legislature not pass a statewide ban. A similar Plastax in Ireland reduced plastic bag consumption by 90%, and we are really excited to see the first U.S. effort to do the same. Even more importantly, Los Angeles also takes aim at paper bags, sending the message that over consumption of any kind is wasteful.

Los Angeles alone will put a dent in plastic bag consumption by reducing the 2.3 billion plastic bags it uses each year. We hope the city proves to be a model for many more across the nation.

Link: L.A. City Council votes for ban on plastic shopping bags

In NYC Plastic bags will carry a fee

The New York Times    11.07.08

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has called for charging shoppers 6 cents for every plastic bag needed at the register.

If the proposal passes, New York City would follow the lead of many European countries and become one of the first places in the United States to assess a so-called plastic bag tax.

Link: In Mayor's Plan, the Plastic Bag Will Carry A Fee