BAG TAXES OR BAG BANS: DOES EITHER SOLUTION HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?

According to findings of The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C., “…bag taxes may just be another way for a state or city to grab general revenue.”

15 states in the United States have pending bag tax proposals ranging from 5 cents to 25 cents a bag but are there any environmental benefits as a result of mandatory bag taxes?

Bag tax proposals are receiving widespread debate with multiple groups claiming the overall purpose and true environmental benefits are not being achieved.  In March of 2002, Ireland passed a plastic bag tax and as reported by the American Chemistry Council, sales of plastic shopping bags decreased by almost 90 percent however, sales of other plastic bags (i.e.: garbage bags) increased by 400 percent. Also, some retailers switched to paper bags, resulting in more transport trucks involved in shipping the increased weight and volume of paper bags versus plastic bags. For further information, please visit American Chemistry Council’s website.