NJ Wants You to Pay for Your Grocery Bags
Your total at checkout may be going up if a new bill passes in New Jersey.
The State Assembly is looking to charge us 5 cents for every single grocery bag... plastic, and paper. Shoppers 65 and older would be exempt. If all goes to plan, this would go into effect June 1, 2017.
According to Patch, stores and the state Division of Taxation would each keep a few cents apiece, while the remaining 3 cents would be used to create the "Healthy Schools and Community Lead Abatement Fund" to fund water testing in homes and schools.
Another tax, just what we need.
Advocates of this bill say it's a win-win as plastic bags are terrible for the environment and the funds generated would help solve the lead problem in New Jersey. California is the only other state with a similar program.