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Plastic bag fees in New York City? What about Seattle?
Mayor Bloomberg's office has urged, urged, urged people in New York City to use cloth grocery bags for a long time now. They've cajoled. They've pleaded. His office has set up plastic bag recycling receptacles at various supermarkets around the city in an effort to make the city folk more environmentally conscience.
But people just love, love, love those plastic bags. They just can't stop using them. Now, there's another plan in the pipeline. You can use those handy sacks of thin plastic, but it might cost you. If the plan goes in the direction Bloomberg would like, people who want their groceries sacked in plastic will pay 6-cents per bag at check-out.
This very European move-- the New York Times article cites many European countries as having similar measures, would generate income for the city. The $16 million would come in handy each year when it comes to doling out the budget.
Some say that 6-cents won't make much difference in people's sack habits and the fee should be much higher. How much higher? When people in Ireland had to fork over 33-cents for a plastic bag starting in 2003, plastic sack use dropped by 94-percent.
Bloomberg thinks 6-cents is a good place to start. Seattle is considering similar measures and Los Angeles and Dallas have also studied ways to get people to stop using plastic like there's no tomorrow.
Perhaps if eco-friendly shopping bags became more of a status symbol, and using plastic became so low brow that people who used them would be so embarrassed they'd feel compelled to duck their heads as to not be noticed, people's habits would change.
At any rate, if you're visiting New York City and duck into a deli for a snack, consider forgoing the bag. Bloomberg will thank you.
Filed under: Business, Ireland, Ecotourism, News, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ouj Nov 7th 2008 12:08PM
I live in Finland and pretty much all grocery stores charge for bags (plastic, paper and "eco" bags) and have done so for decades. Eco bags are not available in every store.
Typical price is 15 euro cents for a plastic bag. However, they are quite durable and can be used several times. There's no "eco tax" on them, just the normal 22% VAT.
I usually take a smallish backpack with me to the supermarket so I don't have to buy any kind of bags that often, except garbage bags and paper bags for organic kitchen waste.
paul Nov 7th 2008 4:32PM
The important question is whether there are alternatives offered. Charging for plastic bags is pretty ridiculous if you're not offering paper ones.
LadyExpat Nov 8th 2008 9:12AM
Here in Korea, we've been paying for plastic bags for years. Even the local convenience store charges. Costco stopped providing plastic several years ago. You have to bring your own. I have absolutely no problem with this. Less plastic in the landfills, hopefully.
Chi Nov 10th 2008 5:02AM
The same in France, most grocery stores charge 3 to 6 cents for a basic plastic bag. It's not much, but enough to make most people bring their own bags or balance their purchases in their arms. If I forget my cloth bag I actually feel guilty when I have to buy the plastic one. It's a very effective strategy.