Local Shoppers Mixed On Proposed Bag Tax

On Monday, County Executive Ike Leggett proposed a 5 cent tax on all paper or plastic bags.

Leggett said the legislation, similar to the tax enacted in D.C. a year ago, would encourage people to use reusable bags when shopping instead of plastic bags, which often end up in County streams.

At the Darnestown on Tuesday afternoon, opinions were mixed about the idea.

Several shoppers supported the tax as a way to change consumer behavior.

Ken Graham said the tax would create incentives for people to remember reusable bags, himself included.

"We have a bunch of reusable bags back at home, but I keep forgetting to bring them back," said Graham, who used two plastic bags to carry his groceries out on Tuesday. "A tax is the only way to make people change their behavior."

John Sellinger agreed that people would avoid using plastic bags to save the 5 cents.

"Look how far people drive to save an extra one cent on gas," he said. "I think it's a great idea; [plastic bags] are terrible for the environment."

Hiroko Ikegami said she hopes that the tax would encourage more people to bring their own bags or boxes and would change the behavior of some grocery store staff, too.

"I think plastic is easier for them," she said. "They always start putting the items in plastic bags."

Ikegami always carries several bags and boxes of different sizes in her car, she said.

"I have to be careful if I bring a big bag then I will buy more," she said.

Other shoppers were opposed to the tax and said it was another example of inappropriate government involvement in public life.

"It's asinine," said Annette Springer, who lives in Frederick but works in the North Potomac/Darnestown area. "People who litter will continue to litter. This is just another way to try and control behavior. It will just hurt the poor; it always does."

Sarah Scherer already brings reusable bags to do her shopping. She said people don't need the extra incentive of taxes.

"I would rather see them cut taxes than increase them," she said.

The county estimates the tax would produce $1.5 million in the first year. That money would go to the Water Quality Protection Fund (WQPF).

Under the proposed legislation, consumers would have to pay 5 cents for a plastic or paper bag at any retail establishment, except for bags used at pharmacists, farmers market, take out at a restaurant or for newspapers. One cent of the tax would go to the retail establishment to help cover administrative costs, the remaining 4 cents would go to the county.