Thursday, January 31, 2013
Montgomery County's controversial bag tax brought in more than double the anticipated revenue, The Washington Examiner reported.
Montgomery County's controversial 5-cent tax on shopping bags has brought in more than $2 million in its first year, The Washington Examiner reported. The $2.1 million total through November could be pushed to $2.2 million once December numbers come in, County spokesperson Patrick Lacefield told The Washington Examiner. Projected revenues for the bag tax were based on Washington, DC's, first year (2011) with the tax, according to the report. DC's system has brought in less money than expected as people brought their own bags to stores. The Montgomery County bag tax took effect on Jan. 1, 2012, and was intended to reduce the number of plastic bags in county waterways. The county expected to earn up to $1.5 million from this tax in the first…
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Shoppers at Safeway in King Farm grabbed complimentary bags on Day 3 of the 'bag tax.'
Volunteers distributed complimentary reusable bags to shoppers at grocery stores around Montgomery County on Tuesday, the third day of the county's new 5-cent bag fee. At the Safeway in Rockville's King Farm neighborhood, Samuel Bland, sales and accounts manager for Barwood Taxi Service, and Laurie Jenkins, supervisor of outdoor environmental education with Montgomery County Public Schools, handed out reusable bags to shoppers. Most showed gratitude and enthusiasm for the free bags, if not for the 5-cent per bag fee, which began appearing as an add-on to shopping receipts on New Year's Day. "Some say 'We're going to get this repealed,'" Bland said. "Others say 'This is great. We won't have to see bags in trees.'" A 2008-2009 study found …
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Beginning Jan. 1, county shoppers will be charged five cents for each plastic or paper carryout bag.
County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) kicked off a public education campaign in Bethesda Wednesday ahead of a new bag law that will go into effect next year. Beginning Jan. 1, shoppers will be charged five cents for every paper or plastic carryout bag they take home with their purchase. At a Wednesday press conference at the Westfield Montgomery Mall, Leggett encouraged shoppers to bring their own re-usable bags on shopping trips to save money and benefit the environment. “We are here today to start spreading the word that there is an easy alternative to paying five cents a bag when shopping. Just bring your own bags,” Leggett said, according to a county press release. Plastic bags are among the top four items found in county streams and …
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
New law will take effect on Jan 1.
The choice of paper or plastic will soon carry a price for local shoppers. The Montgomery County Council passed a 5-cent tax on bags at all retail establishments on Tuesday. The bill, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, is similar to a tax enacted in D.C. a year ago. The County Council passed the bill by an 8-1 vote. Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park cast the single opposing vote. County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed the legislation in early March to reduce litter and to encourage residents to use reusable bags. The county "will work to educate residents to help them be prepared for the transition to having re-useable bags become part of their shopping routine," Leggett (D) said in a news release on Tuesday. "…
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Supporters say it's a way to go green. Others say it's 'ridiculous.'
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Thursday, March 3, 2011
The cost of shopping in Montgomery County may be going up. County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) plans to introduce a bag tax soon. Supporters see it as a way to go green. But some shoppers told CNS-TV's Tolleah Price that it's just another way to nickel and dime consumers.
Robert E. Williamson
8:53 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
We reuse the same bags for everything except we pay for paper bags from Giant for groceries since we recycle them as collection containers for recycable paper and newspapers. My question is whether the nickel has resulted in fewer plastic bags in the waste stream/Chesapeak Bay. more ›