by Brandon Zubek

Created on: May 19, 2009

Since the dawn of the 'green age', many countries around the world have implemented a tax on non-degradable plastic bags (i.e. bags that are not eco-friendly). However, I don't think that this is a good thing. Firstly, taxing plastic bags will require meticulous counting at the cash register, and secondly, I don't believe it will work because people will continue to use plastic bags anyway.

If the state introduced a tax on plastic bags while shopping, it would be a set amount per bag, for example ten cents per bag. Everybody knows that register queues are long enough already without the extra burden of having to count plastic bags and input them into the cash machine at the checkout. This will cause many people to get annoyed at the register and simply do without bags and carry the groceries home, even if there is a large amount of groceries. This will result in a lot of spillage from people attempting to carry too much, and consumers will ultimately be the inconvenienced ones, resulting in much anger an annoyance in supermarkets.

If you don't use a plastic bag and don't want to carry the groceries home without a carrier, the only other alternative is 'green bags' which cost about $1 each. If plastic bags are taxed, the makers of the green bags will have an increased control of the market and will most likely increase prices, making the consumer the one that suffers. If there is a small tax on plastic bags (say 10 cents per bag), people will continue to use the bags anyway. In Australia, Borders Bookstores implemented a system of charging 10 cents a bag. It appears now that this system of reducing plastic bag usage has not worked, and people continue to use bags anyway.

There are alternatives to the 'bad' plastic bags that wreck the environment: it's called bio-degradable bags. These degrade when thrown away, do not hurt the environment and are a better alternative type of plastic bag.

Overall, a state-backed tax on plastic bags is unwarranted and will result in unhappy consumers. It will cause longer checkout queues, more anger and annoyance at the supermarket and besides, people will still use plastic bags anyway, even if there is a tax. Instead of taxing plastic bags, stores should be lightly encouraged to use bio-degradable bags which are eco friendly but do not cost as much as 'green bags' to produce. Together, through diplomacy and negotiation with our supermarkets, we can solve the problem of plastic bags and create a happier world for our children, and our children's children, to live in.

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