Plastic Bag Tax Proposed In Texas
An increasing number of lawmakers are seeking to curb consumer use of plastic bags through legislation.
Bills imposing a plastic bag fee have been proposed in many states, including Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and now Texas. Rep. Rafael Anchia hopes his bill mandating a 7-cent tax per plastic bag will decrease use in the Lone Star State. A portion of the tax would go back to the retailer, and the remainder would help fund city recycling programs.
“If people know that there’s an added cost to doing plastic, they’re either going to use paper, which is biodegradable, or they’re going to bring their own bag,” Anchia said.
Will Texas vote for a plastic bag tax? Photo: amystodghill.greenoptions.com
If the bill doesn’t pass, Anchia has a Plan B: A second proposal, which has already been filed in the House, would require stores that supply plastic bags to also offer recycling bins and reusable shopping bags. In addition, the plastic bags would have to be stamped with a reminder to bring them back to the store.
Many large retailers are already doing the things the bill would require. Wal-Mart, for example, actually makes a profit from the combination of its recycling program and the sale of 50-cent reusable shopping bags.
Because there is not yet a state mandate, many Texas cities have been experimenting with programs to cut plastic bag use. In 2008, Austin began a voluntary program similar to the one outlined in Anchia’s backup bill. Data collected by the five participants: H-E-B, Randall’s, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target, showed that in the first six months, plastic bag recycling increased 20 percent, the stores sold 443,227 reusable bags, and demand for the disposable plastic bags dropped 40 percent.
While individual cities have had success in their various programs, many hope a state law will uniform the policy.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Trey Granger
posted on March 6th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Don’t mess with Texas. Seriously though, does anybody else get weird looks when they bring reusable bags into the grocery store? Not that I’m self-conscious, but you hear all these rumors that the grocery store is a great place to meet singles, so hopefully that special someone won’t see my reusable bags and think I’m too cheap to drop a quarter on the disposables.
Rachel Carrera
posted on March 8th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I think this is great. Houston needs this. I don’t see many people bring their own bags to stores, especially the mall.
Therese
posted on March 9th, 2009 at 6:31 am
I bring my own bags and also foldable crates, yes I get weird looks, but hey I really don’t care. The others which are to lazy or to ignorant are the fools…
The funny thing I also see, that the checkout people double bag, they just don’t get it…
In Germany where I lived for 25 years, we had to pay for plastic bags…
eric wood
posted on March 14th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I have 5 reusable shopping bags and I think I may have gotten a weird look or two, but more often I end up having a positive chat with the clerk or someone in line.
I am hesitant to support laws banning or taxing the use of plastic bags. I think they inhibit creativity in finding alternative solutions and I think the more people are educated and given options the more they will choose more responsible choices. Besides, for many people, those plastic grocery bags reduce the demand for store bought trash bags. Many people use their leftover grocery bag for trash can liners or carry-alls.
http://www.groinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
Martin at PlasticLess
posted on March 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Massachusetts retailers have managed to delay the inevitable with some hodgepodge of programs that might reduce plastic bag use somewhat. They didn’t want a ban or a tax. I think switching to reusable bags is easy but that the majority of citizens will always be reluctant to any kind of change.
Chris
posted on March 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I have been using reusable bags for about a year now. I keep them in the car so I can grab them anytime. It is amazing how much they hold, about two or three times as much and a lot stronger. Little by little I have seen more people using them. Society is like a highschool click, If it is not cool, they don’t do it. Basically, I think the media and state and local governments need to promote it like the weather, day-in and day-out. People fall into their old habits as soon as they aren’t reminded about something. In addition, and just as important, each store needs to push for “greener” shopping. If they truly care about helping out, they would do more than put up a display with reusable bags. It is a start, but more is needed.
Michelle
posted on March 17th, 2009 at 10:26 am
The Container Store sells a great little nylon bag which rolls up into a little pouch small enough to fit in a purse or pocket. It’s great for a quick trip to the mall or Target, since I’m always forgetting to bring my large reuseable bags that I got at the grocery store. Plus I don’t feel so goofy carrying around a big green HEB bag while I’m shopping at the mall. I liked the idea so well, I gave them out a Christmas presents to all my shopaholic relatives.
afchick
posted on April 9th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Personally, I think this is an awesome idea. I live in a particularly windy area of San Antonio and, although it is a nice area, whenever the wind picks up it sends plastic bags (God only knows where they come from…I dunno, space…ehem, I digress) flying everywhere. They get stuck in our trees, and we need a ladder to get them out. Then, you drive around the corner, and because of the nearby open fields, the only few sections of bushes and trees along the fence lines look there are homeless people living in them, but it’s just because that’s where all the plastic bags collect. So, yeah, I’m whole-heartedly on board with this idea!
Samara Mejia
posted on April 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I use plastic bags and after all I have learned about the affects it has on the enviroment I will try to convince my mom to buy fabric bags instead.
Caitlin Moore
posted on April 14th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I have Fabric bags because the other bags are harmfull to the earth so I am against plastic bags!!!♥♥♥♥♥♥
Gisela DuVerney
posted on April 21st, 2009 at 9:14 am
I have been recycling for a long time and lately have been giving reusable bags to my friends and family members to have them start using this bags and stop with the plastics. We need a law to make this MANDATORY, that will help a lot, also have more companies to pick the recycles items from home.
Kit Parks
posted on April 22nd, 2009 at 10:43 am
I’m happy to see Texas coming on board. For those of you pioneers already using reusable bags, it won’t be long before you are in the majority. Just got back from a Green Show in NY, and virtually everyone I spoke with had already made the switch. Michelle’s got the right idea…the bags that fold into a pocket make it impossible to leave in the car because they are stored in your purse or pocket. In shameless self-promotion, I direct you to our Ecoroot bag offered online.
P.S. to Representative Anchia: Unfortunately the paper bags in landfills do not decompose due to lack of air and water, and paper bags actually have a higher carbon footprint than the plastic bags (cost more to produce, and ship to stores). Ideally a tax on all one-time use bags would encourage reusable bag use.
Happy Earth Day all!
Charles Yarbrough
posted on April 24th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I am 100% in favor of the decision Texas and other states are attempting to make with a tax on plastic. Sad as it may be, most people don’t seem to do much of anything without a little economic incentive. Europe has had it going on for a while now, it’s time our end of the pond started trying to catch up and I’m very happy to see it in progress. I live in Nashville, TN and the whole situation down here could use a little more publicity than it’s getting and it is a personal goal of mine to spread the word about sites like these.
My thanks to this website and the people on it for being aware!
Kel
posted on April 29th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Trey, whether or not you are joking, (EDITED). It’s people like you that prevent these bills from getting passed. You’re crazy if you really think people are giving you weird looks for trying to SAVE THE PLANET!
Melissa
posted on May 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
This is a great idea! All of the states need to adapt it. Unfortunately though, I wish more money would go to the recycling programs instead of the store. We need to discontinue plastic bags all together! Use the paper ones if you forget your fabric ones. They’re great for using as actual garbage bags (I fill one a week). I don’t buy plastic garbage bags anymore. How do they make those doggie-poop bags compostable? Maybe if they made it mandatory for garbage bags to be compostable, it would solve that problem!!
Polly
posted on May 12th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Those weird looks are actually more like looks of people interested in what you are doing and wondering why you are using your own bags, probably because they do not understand full heartedly what the impact is on the environment. Bravo to those of you leaders who use your own bags.
Here in eastern Canada we have the choice to use our own bags, pay 5 cents for each plastic bag that can be recycled at curbside, or use green baskets. alot of people who walk, bike or use transit will use backpacks for their groceries instead of plastic or the environmental reusable store bags.
Unfortunately there are very few places that offer paper bags here which I think is sad because there are many pulp and paper mills in the area. Also paper does not kill sealife like plastic can.
maria
posted on May 14th, 2009 at 7:10 am
I totaly agree with Polly!!!and to Trey..are you serious you think someone would think you can not afford a bag????It only means you are environementaly aware !!!Please do me a favour and read a little bit about plastic bags!! how much harm they do.. killing over 100 000 animals each year polluting the environment.. just read ..
maria
posted on May 14th, 2009 at 7:17 am
and Polly unfortunately paper bags are also bad for the environment.. the landfills are poorly designed and they decompose almost at the same rate as plastic, it also takes 17 trees to produce 1 tone of paper bags, manufacturing process produces 50 times more water pollution than plastic, generates 5 times as much solid waste as plastic and only 20% gets recycled..THE CHOICE..Cotton bags:) In Europe they are very popular are fashionable as well..
Michelle
posted on May 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
I use those black reusable bags that Walmart sells. At first I would get strange looks from people but I’ve been able to encourage more than a few people to get the reusable bags rather than plastic bags that fall apart if you put too much in them.
And while I don’t necessarily believe in such a high plastic bag price, I think there is a better way. Such as taking an amount off for using the reusable bags.
Raven
posted on August 19th, 2009 at 6:41 am
U guys are. out of your freaking tree…..there is no way this bill will pass in Texas….the plastic bag makers will lobby hard to defeat this….and in Texas as in any other state….its all about the money .. make no mistake…. the tax is just that – a tax……and people will continue to use plastic bags ….
Sandhya
posted on December 2nd, 2009 at 8:22 am
This is great..we’ve been working to raise awarenes and propose laws in Dubai since Dec 2005. It is tough going but very rewarding. Fine is one of the main deterrents to habit change. Texans go for it !!
Maurizio Maranghi
posted on January 20th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Every state should follow these types of taxes. Plastic bags are horrible for our Earth. Recycling is imperative. It is a pity to see individuals not recycling and still using plastic bags these days. Isn’t it 2010?
- Maurizio Maranghi -
rose Timmer
posted on February 6th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
We gave our city commission results of our survey showing that 69 percent of our population was ready to get rid of plastic bags and it passed . Our volunteers have now taken on the task of educating people and working with our bigs stores to see how we can change the mindset of people. We have a voluntary banning of plastic bags till 1-1-2011 and then it mandatory.
Scott
posted on August 1st, 2010 at 9:47 am
Why is it that whenever a group can’t convince people to do something the group believes in, it turns to legislation?
The fact that we consider (and most of us approve of) the use of government force (read: the government’s gun) to make people do what we think is right is proof that we are not making a good enough argument.
Remember, if one uses the power of government (read: the government’s gun) to get what one wants, one shouldn’t cry when another uses the power of government (read: the government’s gun) to get what they want. It’s a two-edged sword (or should I say, “double-barreled shotgun”) that should be wielded sparingly.
We have to do better that putting the gun of government to people’s heads. Surely we can.