The idea is to ban or eliminate the use of plastic bags for free in grocery stores. If the customer insists on using plastic over paper, a surcharge fee will be added to his or her total for every plastic bag used. This added plastic bag fee will go to state and federal goverments for use on other societal programs.
Plastic bags use up natural resources and create litter. It is wasteful and not needed in society. The impact on marine life and litter in coastal areas are substantial. Ireland imposed a tax on plastic bag use in 2002, and since then their goverment has raised millions of dollars. Australia has also recently followed suit and reaping the benefits.
There is a growing movement across the globe in reducing plastic bag use to help our environment. It's time for use to join in.