Washington DC Bag Fee Update

From Reusit.com Newsletter:

After 10 months, the charge for disposable bags in Washington DC has brought in less revenue than hoped, but plastic bag use has dropped by half. Even the small $0.5 a bag charged at stores is apparently making residents think, and helping them remember to bring in their own bags.

For each disposable bag purchased one penny goes to the store selling it and the rest goes to the city for cleaning up polluted rivers. Workers cleaning those rivers say it’s working. They are seeing less bag pollution.

How can you make this work in your city or your grocery store? Reusit.com has downloadable form letters you can use to send to your municipality or your friendly grocery store chain to get them to consider charging for plastic bags. Many already have in place a mechanism for taking 5 cents off your bill for every bag you bring in. It can work both ways! Just go to:

http://www.reuseit.com/take-action/tools-to-influence-policy/form-letter:-retailers

http://www.reuseit.com/take-action/tools-to-influence-policy/form-letter-to-government-officials


Adapt this letter to your needs and send it in!