Councilman Proposes 25-Cent Tax on Grocery Bags

A five-cent tax on grocery bags has won preliminary approval in the Washington D.C. So could it happen in Baltimore?

As a matter of fact, the Baltimore City Council is working on a measure right now that would go much farther. Councilman Bill Henry has proposed a bill that would charge shoppers 25-cents for each bag they take home from the grocery store. ‘It has the benefit of raising some money which could go toward environmental impact,’ he said. ‘But the main thing, it's going to get people to think about whether or not they really need the bag.’

The proposed 25-cent tax got the attention of shopper James Jones of Northeast Baltimore. ‘That's crazy man. I think that's ridiculous,’ he said.

But we did find shoppers who think it's a good idea. ‘It just makes sense for people to think about using the plastic bags and maybe paying for them will help us think about it,’ said Pat Williams of North Baltimore.

Carly Cowley of South Baltimore already shops with one canvas bag, and she supports the idea of a 25-cent tax on the other ones in her shopping cart. ‘I think it would upset me every time but I think it's worth it,’ she said. ‘I have probably like 300 of these bags just shoved up in my house.’

Councilman Henry says small bags will be exempt, and so will the bags for produce and meat. But he's confident the 25-cent plan will be much more effective than the five-cent tax Washington DC is considering. ‘I'd like to see change,’ he said. ‘I'd like to see behavioral change and I think that if you give people the choice between paying a quarter and taking a bag, people will say I'd rather keep my quarter.’

The fee would apply for paper and plastic bags -- and it would be in effect city-wide -- not just at grocery stores but also at take-outs and drug stores, and any other place that gives out bags.

The city council's Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill on June 16th.