Soon, you might have to shell out 5 cents per plastic (or paper) bag on New Jersey shopping trips.
Last week, state lawmakers passed a measure requiring a 5 cents-per-single-use-bag fee for shoppers. The bill, which legislators hope will bring the state as much as $23 million, is poised to pass — pending Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature. If Murphy does sign the measure, it would go into effect on October 1st. Lawmakers say it will cut down on waste and provide funding for environmental cleanups. Per the bill’s language, stores would get 1 cent of the bag fee, while the other 4 cents would go toward a fund for lead abatement in schools and communities, as well as an environmental public-information program, per the Inquirer. People enrolled in food-assistance programs and those 65 and older would be exempt from paying the tax.
Legislators were nearly split on the bill — the votes were 23-16 in the state Senate and 41-32 in the Assembly, per NorthJersey.com. Perhaps surprisingly, some environmentalists who have called for plastic bag bans are against the bill, seeing as it would supersede any local ordinances already in place on plastic or paper bag sales, thus preventing stricter regulations.
Others oppose the measure for different reasons: While funding from the tax is technically supposed to go toward lead abatement (etc.) per the bill’s language, lawmakers have written language in the 2018-19 state budget proposal that would permit money to instead go to the state’s general fund. In an editorial, NJ.com called the move a “legislative money-grab.”
California was the first state to ban plastic bag sales in 2014, citing environmental reasons.
Philly.com
Another reason to be on snap benefits! Disgusting!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine waiting behind a person that pulls out 30 crumbled bags to start packing their groceries? I'll opt for the store boxes instead. They are free. It just means I need to do a big enough order at one time to get one.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to ban them due to some ill conceived notion that this will help the environment, do so. The stores will then be forced to provide a workable alternative.
ReplyDeleteBy taxing us you're not saying it's a hazard you're just taking more of our hard earned money. FOR SHAME.
It has nothing to do with the environment because people still need bags and will still have to throw them out. How about taxing candy maybe it's already taxed, I don't know - but, I do find lots of nosh wrappers around on the streets -that's a no no for the environment) It's a fund raiser plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteAldi stores which have been providing bags for a fee since inception , will they be included in this 5 cent fee?
ReplyDeleteWhat a bad idea. Of course they only harass those who are paying for their food themselves not their friends on food stamps.
ReplyDeleteIf they cared so much about the environment they would give food stamp recipients recyclable bags and charge them too.
And if they cared about hard working people who can't afford another tax they would make very heavy fines for littering but leave shopping bags alone.
In New York it was Simcha Felder who prevented this nonsense because of how hard it will be for frum families who do a lot of grocery shopping for large families. Hopefully our Lakewood politicians will do the same. (But don't count on it)
Why cant stores have like a promotion. For every 5 dollars spent you get a shopping bag free with our logo.can the government legally put a fee on such a set up?
ReplyDelete