Would a Shopping Bag Tax Make You Use Re-Usable Bags?

I use them because I do not like to produce unnecessary waste. Speaking of which, can we somehow stop the junk mail. I am against most government regulation, but there is a place for one.

This is a GREAT tax - there is no reason why people can't spend 99c for a cloth bag and reuse it. We need to focus on raising money for our communities and improving quality of life. Hopefully the bag tax will go towards local environmental improvements and/or public use funds.

I think its crap paying for bags,groceries are high enough as it is

THIS IS REDICULOUS NEXT THE GOVT WILL BE CHARGING YOU FOR TOILET PAPER USE IN PUBLIC PLACES. GET A LIFE.

Every time I hear someone referencing "cutting down 14,000 trees," to make paper, they always fail to mention that paper manufacturers are NOT cutting down national forests. Paper manufacturers cut trees on tree farms that are grown for making paper. Then the manufacturers plant NEW trees to replace the ones used. That's recycling at the source!

I think people should be taxed, as long as the tax goes to environmental preservation, not to pork projects. I understand the concern for low income families, but the bags don't have to be expensive, just functional.

I don't need a tax to get me to use reusable bags as I have been doing so for quite some time, but if it will get others to use them, then I would be in favor of a tax. Unfortunately I don't think it would change the usage habits of the public at large. I think a ban on plastic bags would be a better first step.

I'll be willing to pay a tax when Nestle stops bottling water. I'll be willing to pay a tax on paper or plastic bags when the products I purchase from the store isn't in a paper, plastic, cardboard container (ever notice all that paper & plastic?)
Why not use tap water & glass containers?

I completely agree we should eliminate plastic bags and I use reusable bags often. However, I use paper bags most every week when I grocery shop because when I'm done with them I use them to collect my kitchen garbage instead of buying plastic bags. I see it as being doubly environmentally conscious!

It's been long since time that we start paying for the "embodied value" of all the trash produced by our current way of living. 5 cents a bag is cheap; it could be quite a bit higher.

In the last few years, we've been trying very hard to use only cloth bags and have been mostly successful. And lots of the bags we use were free give-aways, so there's very little reason for people not to switch RIGHT NOW.

Just the idea of this pisses me off. Trying to reduce waste is fine, but to me, this is just another way to drain money from already struggling consumers. I don't believe this is the right way to go about making things better. Reusable bags cost more and are much less convenient...I don't think charging a tax on plastic/paper bags is going to make people more environment friendly, because we are a nation of convenience.

I'm all for a user tax for plastic/paper bags at the store. I currently bring my own reusable ones. But I'm very curious as to how much of a gain this is for stores. They must benefit from customers bringing their own bags because it means they don't have to supply as many. Is the reduction in their costs reflected in their prices? Or, better yet, what they ought to do, is pay the customer 5, 10, 15 or whatever cents per bag the customer supplies!

I already use them. BUT I still use the small bags in the fruit and vegie setion since many of the fresh items I buy are wet. Taxing these would be annoying.

Taxes are annoying but not as annoying as people who thoughtlessly use tons of these plastic bags. People, bring your own bag to the grocery store, the hardware store, everywhere. Its easy. In the meantime, yes, lets put a 25 cent tax on all plastic and paper bags. This is NOT a "tax on the poor." Anyone can bring their own bag to the store - this is matter of education and incentive not an attack on anyone.

My owner uses the plastic bags to clean my litter box. I don't think it matters if she uses grocery bags or buys plastic bags to do so but either way we would have to pay.
Duncan Frevert

Everyone should have cloth bags, i have done so for years. Even when I forget one I refuse plastic or paper bags and put my items in the car without a bad.
People should stop being so lazy, just say no to plastic bags at the check out. If it is small put it in your purse, if not just take it to the car and unload it at home. You probably need the exercise.

so if there is a tax on plastic bags, does that mean a refund on those bags that are brought back to the store to be recycled? i would hope so.

I try very hard to use cloth bags rather than plastic or paper. I feel guilty when I bring items home in a paper or plastic bag. If I go to a store and I forgot my cloth bags, and I only have a few items I often ask to go without a bag. My local grocery store offers a $.5/bag refund when you use cloth or even recycle old paper or plastic bags.

SILLY TAX TOILET PAPER USE AND JUNK MAIL.

It would help immensely if the sackers at the grocery stores would put more than one item in each bag.