National Bottle Deposit + A Bag Tax

[Turtle]

Congress Considers National Bottle Deposit, Bag Tax

The highlights:

Two measure introduced late last week would impose a national bottle deposit and a tax on single-use plastic bags, the New York Times reports. The bottle bill would establish a national nickel deposit on plastic water bottles and other drink containers, while the bag bill would tack on a nickel tax on throw-away plastic bags from grocery stores and other retailers, including convenience stores.

The two bills are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and controlling toxic pollution, according to its sponsors, Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

If approved, the 5-cent tax would start January 1, 2010, and rise to a quarter per bag five years later. The bill applies only bags from grocery stores, dry cleaners, take-out restaurants, retail and convenience stores.

Revenue acquired from the tax would fund several programs, including a penny to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and a penny for the retailers who have the program. Two cents also would go to paying down the national debt.

“Our environment is literally choking on plastic bags,” Moran said. “Equally disturbing, as these plastics break down, toxic chemicals are being released into the environment…Some environmentalists believe we may be witnessing the negative repercussions locally in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers with the advent of inter-sex fish.”


Then why not just ban the manufacturer, sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags?


Several European, African and Asian countries already ban or tax plastic bags, and San Francisco banned the bags two years ago.

 

[greg334]

Logic eludes the congress.

We got along great for a hundred years with the paper bag, it was the best recyclable transport consumer tool out there, so why not ban the plastic bag and return to something that makes more sense .... oh yea Logic eludes the congress.

 

[LDB]

Well DUH. You don't ban them when you can create a new tax and by the liberals favorite device of false labels not identify it as a tax but call it a deposit.

 

[Jack_Berry]

rmembere the fanfare over the ..."no deposit no return plastic bottle.."? well doesn't deposit indicate if you bring it back you get the deposit back?

 

[Poorboy]

Congress Considers National Bottle Deposit, Bag Tax

The highlights:
“Our environment is literally choking on plastic bags,” Moran said. “Equally disturbing, as these plastics break down, toxic chemicals are being released into the environment…Some environmentalists believe we may be witnessing the negative repercussions locally in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers with the advent of inter-sex fish.”


Then why not just ban the manufacturer, sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags?


Several European, African and Asian countries already ban or tax plastic bags, and San Francisco banned the bags two years ago.

How about a Tax on Every Roll Of Toilet paper? Lol Lol

 

[Steady Eddie]

Who's to say in a few million years bottles and bags will be the fuel of the day. Or food for the large worms that can get at them.....

 

[RLENT]

I've noticed something interesting the last few times I've been at the counter at J .... next time you're in there have a look at the area behind the counter, above it where they store the cartons of cigarettes ..... starting to look pretty bare up there ..... (might not be as bare in the states where the state tax on tobacco is low)

Anybody wanna take odds on whether the increased taxes on cigarettes actually ends up resulting in less revenue to the government when all is said and done ?

Where's Art Laffer when ya need him ?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I've noticed something interesting the last few times I've been at the counter at J .... next time you're in there have a look at the area behind the counter, above it where they store the cartons of cigarettes ..... starting to look pretty bare up there ..... (might not be as bare in the states where the state tax on tobacco is low)

Anybody wanna take odds on whether the increased taxes on cigarettes actually ends up resulting in less revenue to the government when all is said and done ?

Where's Art Laffer when ya need him ?

In SD when they put $1.00 per pack increase last year revenue went DOWN 32%...especially when neighboring states are lower.....Politicians underestimate what an addict will do for cheap smokes...

on subject....it is about time there was a DEPOSIT program nationwide!
In Ontario Canada stores are going to make you pay .05 a bag if you need one....so bring your own...
Stores like Walmart should have seen it coming and make them a commodity and profit from it.

I think it's a good thing.....

 

[jujubeans]

oh darn...I don't wanna pay for those free little trashbags! Just how many of you have that little walmart bag hanging up for your truck trash?

 

[pjjjjj]

The bottle bill would establish a national nickel deposit on plastic water bottles and other drink containers, while the bag bill would tack on a nickel tax on throw-away plastic bags from grocery stores and other retailers, including convenience stores.

Does that mean the nickel deposit will be refunded upon return of the plastic bottle? And will the nickel tax on throw-away plastic bags be avoidable for those that bring their own bags? If so, seems fair.

 

[pelicn]

We've gone from returnable glass bottles, removing an income source to kids who picked up those bottles and returned them to the store, to plastic bottles that fill the landfills.
From paper bags (save those trees) to plastic bags that stick to fences along the highway.

So much for that great recycling idea huh?

Hey, if we all start using the cloth bags for shopping, we'll have ready made clothes to wear in a few years.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Sounds like another "trump the states" tax. If they institute it, we'll never see the end of the tax. Once we stop using plastic bags, they'll tax paper bags to make up for it. Likewise, when ppl stop smoking, they'll tax Big Macs and Playstations.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Does that mean the nickel deposit will be refunded upon return of the plastic bottle? And will the nickel tax on throw-away plastic bags be avoidable for those that bring their own bags? If so, seems fair.

The Food Basic store and No-Frills up there have always charged 5 cents for the bags...people bring their own or the store get rid of the boxes for you to pack your groceries....

when the bags are free everyone tends to double bag when it is unnecessary....its wasteful and it costs us money...Imagine how many millions Walmart spends on bags alone? and that cost is written into everything they sell....so we are paying indirectly anyhow....

Hawk you know full well the government is going to tax us no matter what we do....

 

[layoutshooter]

How much will it cost the state to collect this tax and pay the Feds? I got a really good idea. Since these nuts in congress have soooooo much time on thier hands and seem to be doing little except "sticking it" to us, why don't they work on a bill for the all to resign!! All at once. Every dang on one of them. Why do we continue to pay these kooks? Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

How much will it cost the state to collect this tax and pay the Feds? I got a really good idea. Since these nuts in congress have soooooo much time on thier hands and seem to be doing little except "sticking it" to us, why don't they work on a bill for the all to resign!! All at once. Every dang on one of them. Why do we continue to pay these kooks? Layoutshooter

Thats why private enterprise should start charging for the bags....

 

[layoutshooter]

Yeah, I guess. Why can't they all just crawl in a giant hole, we can cover them up and use the "gas" they produce to fuel power plants. At least they would have a use then. Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

you've seen them eternal flames coming from landfill sites....burning the gases off...what a waste of fuel and energy!!

 

[layoutshooter]

I know!!! It just amazes me!! More proof though that all this so-called "Green Energy" talk is just a bunch of bull. We have been making large deposits of methane (natural gas is a componet of methane) for years in our land fills. It is there for the taking and VERY easy to get too. Anyone who has driven past those "flames" knows it exsists and any fool can see it can be used. Even a "Putz" like Barry (Tommy Ivo) Obama or ALGORE should know about it. That is not what they want. It's cheap, available and easy to get at. That is not in the plan. If it is not going to kill industry they are not interested in it. Green my butt. Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I know!!! It just amazes me!! More proof though that all this so-called "Green Energy" talk is just a bunch of bull. We have been making large deposits of methane (natural gas is a componet of methane) for years in our land fills. It is there for the taking and VERY easy to get too. Anyone who has driven past those "flames" knows it exsists and any fool can see it can be used. Even a "Putz" like Barry (Tommy Ivo) Obama or ALGORE should know about it. That is not what they want. It's cheap, available and easy to get at. That is not in the plan. If it is not going to kill industry they are not interested in it. Green my butt. Layoutshooter

Your butts green? You should see a Doc...thats not normal!*LOL*

 

[layoutshooter]

And Who, pray tell, EVER said I was normal?????????

Layoutshooter