Spring Break
Conn. legislature discusses five-cent tax on plastic bags
Joseph Adinolfi
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: News
Connecticut legislators gathered in Hartford on March 24 to discuss new legislation that could mandate a five-cent fee for plastic bags at retail stores. Connecticut grocery stores have voiced support for the bill.
Connecticut consumers use over 400 million plastic grocery bags each year. The assembly's environmental committee passed the legislation. The town of Westport's ban on plastic bags inspired the bag fee. Westport's ban was passed in September, and has been met with praise from both environmental advocates and common townspeople.
Bills that provide monetary penalties for actions that may have negative repercussions for the environment are becoming more and more popular. They allow the state government to protect the environment, and raise needed revenue.
State Representative Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) has spearheaded the effort to pass the legislation. She was inspired by the success in both Westport and Ireland - where bag usage has been reduced by 93 percent by a law that requires stores to charge 25 cents for every bag used.
"We're trying to do the most difficult thing possible - change human behavior," said Merrill.
Many states, including California and New York, have laws in place that regulate plastic shopping bag usage, but Connecticut would be the first to mandate a fee. If passed, the legislation will generate an estimated $10 million in income annually.
The Co-op implemented a program - known as the Co-op Cares Bag Program - almost one year ago.
Students receive a wooden nickel when they choose not to use one of the Co-op's plastic shopping bags. The nickel symbolizes a five-cent donation to one of four charities from which the student is allowed to choose.
One of the program's most alluring features is that it does not require customers to pay for the use of plastic bags. Instead it allows shoppers who refuse plastic bags, or opt to use their own recyclable bags, the opportunity to donate five cents to a charity of their choice.
The UConn Green Campus Fund is one of the charitable options, which allows students to further their positive environmental impact.
"I like what they've done at the Co-op," said Richard Miller, the director of the Office of Environmental Policy at UConn. "The fund has collected hundreds of dollars since the program was put in place."
Creative solutions for revenue shortages are absolutely essential during hard economic times, and with a looming energy crisis as well as global warming to deal with, it makes sense to package solutions together.
Opponents of the bill claim that the same environmental benefit could easily be attained through programs similar to the Co-op Cares Bag Program, without the added economic burden.
"A five-cent tax could add up for students, but I think it would send the right message," said Miller.
Connecticut consumers use over 400 million plastic grocery bags each year. The assembly's environmental committee passed the legislation. The town of Westport's ban on plastic bags inspired the bag fee. Westport's ban was passed in September, and has been met with praise from both environmental advocates and common townspeople.
Bills that provide monetary penalties for actions that may have negative repercussions for the environment are becoming more and more popular. They allow the state government to protect the environment, and raise needed revenue.
State Representative Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) has spearheaded the effort to pass the legislation. She was inspired by the success in both Westport and Ireland - where bag usage has been reduced by 93 percent by a law that requires stores to charge 25 cents for every bag used.
"We're trying to do the most difficult thing possible - change human behavior," said Merrill.
Many states, including California and New York, have laws in place that regulate plastic shopping bag usage, but Connecticut would be the first to mandate a fee. If passed, the legislation will generate an estimated $10 million in income annually.
The Co-op implemented a program - known as the Co-op Cares Bag Program - almost one year ago.
Students receive a wooden nickel when they choose not to use one of the Co-op's plastic shopping bags. The nickel symbolizes a five-cent donation to one of four charities from which the student is allowed to choose.
One of the program's most alluring features is that it does not require customers to pay for the use of plastic bags. Instead it allows shoppers who refuse plastic bags, or opt to use their own recyclable bags, the opportunity to donate five cents to a charity of their choice.
The UConn Green Campus Fund is one of the charitable options, which allows students to further their positive environmental impact.
"I like what they've done at the Co-op," said Richard Miller, the director of the Office of Environmental Policy at UConn. "The fund has collected hundreds of dollars since the program was put in place."
Creative solutions for revenue shortages are absolutely essential during hard economic times, and with a looming energy crisis as well as global warming to deal with, it makes sense to package solutions together.
Opponents of the bill claim that the same environmental benefit could easily be attained through programs similar to the Co-op Cares Bag Program, without the added economic burden.
"A five-cent tax could add up for students, but I think it would send the right message," said Miller.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Christopher-Peter: Maingot
posted 6/05/09 @ 4:12 PM EST
Connecticut, New York, Toronto or "tim buck two....The plastic bag "legislation" or "ACT" is simply another convoluted government "green plan" marketing plan, and again, it's just putting another target on the consumer's backs and bucks too. (Continued…)
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