House defeats bill that would prohibit fees on plastic bags

Posted 8/21/12

Supporters of the measure said because it only applied to recyclable bags, the law would encourage consumers to recycle the bags, but some legislators expressed the view that in places where …

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House defeats bill that would prohibit fees on plastic bags

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Supporters of the measure said because it only applied to recyclable bags, the law would encourage consumers to recycle the bags, but some legislators expressed the view that in places where consumers have been charged for plastic bags, their use has diminished, and that leads to fewer plastic bags ending up in waterways and the environment.

Others argued that not allowing a tax or fee might encourage some consumers not to take reusable bags with them when they go to the grocery store.

There is a national movement to ban or reduce the use of plastic bags because of the environmental damage they cause, and hundreds of municipalities across the country have adopted bans or fees on them.

California is the first state to adopt a statewide ban on plastic bags, which the state legislature voted for two years ago. But it was put on hold when the plastic bag industry managed to get the issue put on the ballot in the upcoming election. Now voters will decide the issue on November 8.

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