So I just learned that on January 1, 2010, stores that sell food will be required to charge a 5 cent fee/tax for each plastic or paper bag they provide to customers. I'm not sure whether "stores that sell food" includes restaurants, but I know it encompasses grocery stores, pharmacies, and stores like Target. The stores will keep 1-2 cents per bag and the rest will go into a fund to pay for cleanup of DC's Anacostia River, which has tons of plastic bag pollution.
I'm actually ok with this new fee. I usually bring my own bags to shop because I walk or take the Metro home from stores. Reusable bags hold a lot more and are easier to carry than plastic or paper bags. Retailers include the cost of bags in their prices, so the fewer bags used, the cheaper things should be. Some critics have said this would drive up costs for the poor, but I disagree: anyone can reuse bags. Who doesn't have tons of plastic bags around their homes that they can reuse? Also, merchants are donating bags to the city to provide for low-income households.
Don't forget, on trips to CVS, use your CVS GreenBagTag (it's awesome! I've gotten at least $3 back in extra care bucks so far.) see:
http://guyslikesaving.blogspot.com/2009/10/kudos-to-cvs.html
Unilever (maker of tons of consumer goods) has a daily contest for members of its site (free to join). 25 people each day will instantly win a reusable bag and one monthly winner receives $500.
Join and enter here!
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