Plastic Bags Banned in DC
- by Brandon Fuller on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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The DC Council has voted to unanimously support the Anacostia River Clean-Up and Protection Act of 2009. Although an additional vote is necessary to move the bill to the Mayor for his signature, it looks inevitable that the legislation, and the plastic ban included therein, will be law very soon.
Under the law, retailers will be prohibited from giving out plastic bags that are not recyclable. In addition, a 5 cent charge will be placed on each plastic bag given out to customers for their purchases. Of this money, 1 cent goes to the business and 4 cents is invested in cleaning up the Anacostia River. The law also creates a new license plate for residents that will raise funds for the river and an option to donate to the clean-up fund when you file your taxes.
Other cities have experimented with plastic bag bans. Recently, New York implemented a system similar to that described in the Anacostia law. Generally, the bans are met with resistance by local business owners and bag manufacturers. Allowing businesses to keep a penny from the fee and using the funds to clean-up the environment helped this bill move forward.
Read more about this legislation on an earlier post we published HERE and make sure you start bringing those cloth bags to the store or it’s gonna cost you.
Photo Credit: Flickr CC User Daquella manera
Sphere: Related ContentAbout the Author
Brandon Fuller has written 178 stories on this site.
Brandon Fuller works at the intersection of environmental policy and communications. Currently, he publishes a blog on environmental issues and green living that has been featured in the Washington Post Express, Washingtonian.com, GreenPlanet.com and more. He is also a member of the advisory committee for CarbonFreeDC, a grassroots initiative dedicated to mobilizing DC-area residents to dramatically reduce local carbon emissions. He recently earned a law degree in environmental law and policy and has served as both a Law Clerk and Legislative Assistant for the State of Florida.
