Shoppers in Brownsville, TX, should start investing in reusable shopping bags. Starting Jan. 5, most stores will be banned from using plastic bags and people will be charged an extra dollar for every transaction in which they use plastic bags.

“We want to have a beautiful city,” said a city Commissioner. “We want to make sure that we take care of the environment.”

Not all businesses will be forbidden from using plastic bags. Dry cleaners are among the short list of store types that will be exempted from the new rule.

The Commissioner says money raised from the $1 surcharge “would be given back to city for clean up and environmental projects.”

Do you expect to see more municipalities banning plastic bags? Or is it just an eco-friendly fad?

Fee to use plastic bags after ban in Brownsville [ValleyCentral.com]

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