DC bill adds plastic shopping bag charge

I once read this article about this chick in a British town that encouraged all the locals to switch to cloth, reusable bags. Amazing. And now Mayor Fenty in DC is encouraging residents to do the same!

According to DCist:

Mayor Adrian Fenty signed into law today the bill that will establish a 5 cent fee charged to consumers for every disposable plastic or paper bag they take from a retailer. The mayor’s action means the 5 cent fee will go into effect in January … Four out of every five cents charged will then go into the newly established Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Fund (with the remaining cent for the retailer, for their trouble).

Kudos to Fenty, the administration and retailers for not only encouraging more environmentally-friendly practices, but for also funnelling the penalty money for convenience to protect local wildlife. Finally, the changes I’ve been waiting for. And I don’t even live there anymore …