SPRINGFIELD – Plastic bags will be much more expensive for stores to distribute soon, as Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly leadership – in close coordination with the ideologically Left environmental groups like the Illinois Environmental Council – contemplate adding a 10 cents a bag fee.
"Plastic pollution threatens our environment at an alarming rate, endangering wildlife and public health," the Illinois Environmental Council says on its website. "More and more cities across the state and county are taking action on plastic bags through fees at checkout–sparking a major behavior shift among consumers."
And that's exactly what Governor Pritzker and the controlling Democrats in both chamber want – a major behavior shift among Illinois shoppers statewide.
Governor Pritzker mentioned in his first state of the state address his support for reducing plastic bag waste by charging 10 cents for each one of those bags grocery and discount stores offer to their patrons.
"These fees have drastically reduced plastic bag waste, increased reusable bag use, and provided needed revenue for waste reduction programs locally," IEC says. There's already a bag charge in Chicago, where the plastic bag usage has dropped 26% since the fee went into effect. Now the IEC wants the fee statewide.
HB3335, the Carryout Bag Fee Act, would place a $0.10 fee on plastic bags sold at retail locations, and "fund environmental programs across the state," something that groups like the IEC would most likely be able to tap into.
Democrat State Rep. Ann Williams is the sponsor. The bill is scheduled to be heard March 14th in the House Revenue & Finance Committee.
