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* Tom Kacich regularly answers questions from readers. Here’s his latest…
“So, using the math in the plastic bag article our new governor (J.B. Pritzker) states there are 400,000,000 (that’s 400 million bags) the stores provide each year in Illinois. Seriously?”
The city of Chicago has a 7-cent bag tax (from which the city gets 5 cents and the retailer keeps 2 cents).
The city collected $5.6 million in 2017 and $5.9 million in 2018 from the bag tax.
Since Chicago’s population is about 21 percent of the state’s population, Pritzker’s budget team probably multiplied $5.9 million times 5, calculated for some loss from consumer behavior (primarily customers opting for reusable bags or no bags) and arrived at approximately $20 million.
That’s probably close, but part of the proposed state bag tax will be retained by retailers, like it is in the city. And, man, that’s a lot of bags. Whew.
* The Question: Do you support a state tax on plastic shopping bags? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:07 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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It’s a good way to change behavior. I have lots of reusable bags I’m my trunk, but I always forgot them until getting dinged by the tax for about the tenth time.
Comment by WH Mess Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:11 pm
Stores such as Aldi do not have plastic bags you have to bring your own. Buy five $6 reusable grocery bags and never pay the tax. It’s that simple.
I’m surprised stores get to keep ~30% of that tax, they have no incentive to eradicating plastic bag use.
Comment by Almost the weekend Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:12 pm
Everything plastic that can be done without should be taxed. Raise some money and change behavior. I think consumer behavior will be more significant than they expect.
Comment by What's in a name? Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:15 pm
I voted yes: like the first commenters said, use a reusable bag. We have so many in our house that we keep some in the car so we always have them at the store. Ikea also got rid of bags years ago and you just bring your own!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:16 pm
What happened to bio-degradable bags made from corn?
Can’t tax’em?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:17 pm
I think half of those 400 million are under my sink.
Comment by JT11505 Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:19 pm
(More personal than policy yes vote here) I hate seeing them stuck in tress and bushes all over my neighborhood, particularly in the winter leafless months. Drives me nuts
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:19 pm
Tilting the economics away from non-biodegradable bags makes sense. Their long term damage is too great. I would ban them like asbestos, but this is a useful act.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:21 pm
Voted no - any one with a dog ( poop bag) or school aged kids (lunch bags) knows that these things often get a second use. Also let consumers/business decide how best to use and dispose/recycle them.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:24 pm
It’s a user tax, one that’s easily avoided. Why would anyone oppose it?
I live in Chicago. The tax has cost me nothing
Comment by Truthteller Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:24 pm
I’d prefer to see them banned altogether, but it makes sense to start here, and see if it reduces the number used.
Comment by KBS Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:25 pm
Can’t answer yes or no till they honestly say what they are primarily trying to accomplish policy/revenue wise via plastic bags. If they most just want bags gone in Illinois for ecological reasons then flat out ban them. If they most want/need the revenue then make the tax only a few cents per bag which will make it likely that average shoppers won’t justify going through the hassle of bringing their own bags to avoid the tax entirely. The higher the bag tax the fewer plastic bags will probably be used and more reusable bags will be used– but also less revenue will be collected. Just be honest about the goal and don’t play games like with the soda tax debacle.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:29 pm
voted yes. I always support taxes I can easily avoid.
Comment by don the legend Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:30 pm
I do support it; however, grocery stores need to reassess how they train their employees and overuse of plastic bags. I almost always remember my reusable bags, and am constantly being offered a plastic bag for my meat. The produce and meat sections are also supplied with plastic bags so you can place everything in separate plastic bag. So you get a bunch of free plastic bags, but have to pay if you want the plastic bags put into a bigger bag at check out? Doesn’t make much sense.
Comment by Jen Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:31 pm
===school aged kids (lunch bags)===
Probably shouldn’t do that https://lluh.org/patients-visitors/health-wellness/live-it/online-health-show/episode-2-reusable-grocery-bags
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:31 pm
Yes. We need revenue and to reduce the use of plastic disposables.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:38 pm
Yes. It’s easy to avoid having to pay the tax and that’s ultimately the point.
Comment by Nacho Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:40 pm
Sure, let’s try to limit plastic use. A little bit of revenue and a little bit of “greener” behavior.
Comment by Perrid Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:41 pm
Single-use plastic is the bane of our existence. It should be banned so a tax is a good place to start.
(Sorry this topic hits a nerve.)
Comment by Lefty Lefty Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:42 pm
Rich, I think you missed the point of that story. They are saying the reusable bags carry dangerous bacteria, which I guess
makes a case for keeping plastic bags.
Comment by Heftyheftyhefty Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:42 pm
===They are saying the reusable bags carry dangerous bacteria===
Yes, but reusing plastic bags means you’ll have the same bacteria.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:43 pm
YES. But it should be more than just a tax to reduce use of these bags. Taxes like this should be used to fund better recycling of plastics of all kinds, glass, metals….
Comment by Baby Boomer Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:45 pm
” They are saying the reusable bags carry dangerous bacteria”
Mine go into the laundry.
Comment by a drop in Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:55 pm
No. However, I’d love to go back to the paper bag use. I always found multiple uses for those.
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:56 pm
Bring back the paper bags.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:01 pm
I voted “yes.” The state needs more revenue. I respect any of our political leaders who support unpopular things like taxes or cuts (specific taxes and cuts, I should say, not “cut waste and fraud”).
Comment by Earnest Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:02 pm
I do not support ANY tax on plastic bags, state or city. It’s one of the most irritating things ever. I wish everyone who voted for it would come over and clean out my cat’s litter box with their bare hands.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:05 pm
Call me a tree-hugging liberal, but I hate single use plastic. I think that we have a huge responsibility to care for our planet, and average Americans do very little in this regard. The bag tax is a great way to change individual behavior, help the environment, and in the meantime, make some money for the state. The environmentalist in me says its not enough, but the practical taxpayer in me says it will be good for the state.
… it just occurred to me, however, that it is easy for me to vote as I did on this because I already own my own bags and bring them everywhere. State adoption of a bag tax has the same effect on me as when the city did: $0.
Comment by Notorious RBG Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:07 pm
Cat litter box tip #1…don’t pick up kitty poo with your hands.
My dear wife often utilizes this same form of logic…to my amusement.
Make the Cat pay the tax?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:11 pm
(More personal than policy yes vote here) I hate seeing them stuck in tress and bushes all over my neighborhood, particularly in the winter leafless months. Drives me nuts
Nuts me too…I fish for them with my baitcasting rod/reel and a weighted treble hook…turns out to be quite a bit of fun…set the hook!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:21 pm
====JT11505 - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 3:19 pm:
I think half of those 400 million are under my sink.===
Wait…Mom?
Comment by Don Gerard Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:22 pm
In Chicago its the elderly, busy moms, young kids and single men it doesn’t seem fair.
Comment by Anon Y Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:22 pm
= I wish everyone who voted for it would come over and clean out my cat’s litter box with their bare hands.=
They sell biodegradable bags for this. Lot better for you and your cat.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 4:29 pm