By Jonetta Rose Barras Examiner Columnist The District law imposing a 5-cent tax on nonrecyclable bags from supermarkets and retail businesses took effect Jan. 1. But already politicians are making exceptions — just not for consumers.
D.C. Council members, this week, gave final approval to a 90-day waiver for businesses that claimed to have too many nonrecyclable bags to simply dump them. Such businesses won’t be fined for violating the law; but customers who visit those establishments sans sack will be slapped with the 5-cent fee.
Charles Allen, a spokesman for Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells — the bag law’s chief sponsor — said, “We heard from several different businesses that buy bags once every six months or once a year. They said they haven’t had time to get through existing inventory.”
I’m confused: If businesses didn’t get rid of bags before the law took effect, can they do it now? Technically, behavior modification for customers is under way. If it works, more consumers may take bags to stores. Couldn’t that mean businesses with an overabundance of nonrecyclable bags may never eliminate their existing stock?
“Would you prefer to have them throw away the bags and they end up in a landfill?” Allen asked.
Earth to Allen: Those bags are going to end up in a landfill. How long can you recycle a nonrecyclable bag?
While some businesses get a pass, others are being pulled into the net although they don’t actually sell food. Dorothy Brizill, founder of D.C. Watch, a government watchdog organization, told Wells this week that stores like Macy’s were also being required to impose the bag fee simply because they sold candy. (Going to buy a suit? Better take that bag.)
Wells didn’t concede an amendment to the law might be necessary. Instead, he chose to boast. Big supermarkets, he said, were providing free bags. Further, some had begun collecting the tax; for example, between Jan. 1 and Jan. 3, Harris Teeter took in $150, he said.
Bag proponents claimed the law would lead to a reduction in the amount of bags in the Anacostia River. They also said the tax (my word, not theirs) could be used to support cleaning up the river.
But the money collected, thus far, is a pittance for river cleaning, especially because businesses get a commission from their collections. Administrative costs to the government also must be covered. And, truth be told, the biggest problems for the Anacostia may be plastic bottles and cups.
Next year, after environmentalists and their council enablers realize the error of their assessment, don’t be surprised if they push through yet another law. That one could force consumers to take their own containers to supermarkets to get their spring water, juice and soda. You name it.
The bag law, coupled with the bill approved this week by the council prohibiting smoking outside in front of buildings, indicates that in the District there is no end to the legislative absurdity.
Jonetta Rose Barras, hosts of WPFW’s “D.C. Politics with Jonetta,” can be reached at [email protected]
