In addition to generating money for the city, the new bag policy aims to change consumers’ behavior. Such a policy encourages consumers to think ahead and prepare their own bags by shifting ever so slightly the modern “use and throw away” mentality. Cities such as San Francisco have gotten rid of plastic bags entirely. While D.C. isn’t going that far, the new law aims to help the environment in addition to raising money for the city and saving money for stores. The Anacostia River, currently littered with bags and other refuse on its path through the District, will benefit from the tax. Some of the money will be placed in a special fund for the river. Retailers also get a compromise: keeping 1 cent of each 5 cent transaction. If stores (such as Yes! Organic Market) credit a customer at least 5 cents for using their own bags, the retailer will get to keep 2 cents.

Personally, the new law will be a challenge for me to change my behavior. While I use my own bags for shopping on the weekends, I often stop by the local stores after getting off the Metro on my way home from work. I don’t want to carry a bag to work and back everyday, so this will mean shelling out 5 cents per bag or going back out again to shop once I get home. It’s a change in routine that I look forward to figuring out. I now have an incentive to change my behavior. As is often the case, one can either spend a little more money or be slightly more inconvenienced to accomplish the same task. While 5 cents isn’t a huge tax, I’m going to opt for a little greater inconvenience. With all the modern ease and convenience of life in the industrialized world today, I think I can handle bringing my own bags to shop.

- Justin Manger

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