Maryland Considers Statewide Bag Tax
Many areas are trying to find ways to to reduce the use of non-biodegradable shopping bags that harm wildlife and litter streets, drains and bodies of water. The Washington Post reports that Maryland would be the first state to enact a statewide bag tax. As might be expected, bag manufacturers and their lobbyists offer creative arguments against any plastic bag restrictions.
Would a statewide bag tax provide an effective reduction of the use of plastic shopping bags? The District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland have a 5 cent bag tax. Since 2010, studies show that plastic shopping bag use in the District has dropped by half and by about a third in Montgomery County. Last year, Montgomery County collected more than two million dollars from the bag tax. That kind of funding will pay for a lot of clean up efforts. A statewide tax would generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and there would be a sizable reduction of the use of plastic bags.
Those of us that live in Montgomery County, Maryland now carry reusable bags when we go to the grocery store. It is just a matter of changing some habits.
What is your state doing to reduce the use o non-biodegradable shopping bags? Do you have any creative new ideas?
Orchids, Longwood Gardens IMG_2360
Photograph by Roy Kelley. Canon PowerShot G11 camera.
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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