Philadelphia plastic bag tax proposal stalls

19 May 2009 00:16  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--A proposed 25-cent plastic bag tax in Philadelphia failed to gain enough support from the city council, an official at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said on Monday.

The Philadelphia city council was unlikely to vote on the proposed fee since a majority of the council did not support it, said Jennifer Killinger, director of industry and consumer outreach with the ACC’s plastics division.

The 25-cent plastic bag tax would have added nearly $400 (€296) to the annual grocery bill of an average family, the ACC said.

“Consumers don’t need to bear a tax in order to help protect the environment,” said Shari Jackson, director of the ACC’s Progressive Bag Affiliates.

“Plastic bags are fully recyclable and can be recycled at many major grocery and retail chains in Philadelphia and across the United States.”

($1 = €0.74)

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