"I signed this law in July to cut down on the disposable bags that foul our waterways," said Mayor Adrian Fenty in a statement last month, saying that one particularly urban waterway, the city's Anacostia River, has been particularly befouled by the plastic shopping bags.
"Our research shows that plastic bags are a major component of the trash in the Anacostia River," said Maureen McGowan, interim director of the city's environment department.
"By taking disposable bags out of production and out of the waste stream, everyone who goes to the store can help keep the waters clean," McGowan said.
And Fenty noted that part of the money collected will be spent toward cleanup of the Anacostia.
Part of the money collected will be spent cleaning up the waterways... Where does the other part go? Apparently to purchase more bags:
To prepare for the change, the city government has distributed some 122,000 reusable shopping bags to elderly and low-income residents who complain that their limited spending power will be further hampered by the levy.
I would just like to echo the sentiments of the American Chemistry Council in calling this new tax "misguided and unnecessary."