D.C. Council gives final approval to bag tax bill

The D.C. Council has given final approval to a bag tax on items purchased at stores in the District.

The bill will add a 5-cent fee on every paper and plastic bag shoppers use at grocery, drug, convenience and liquor stores -- as well as street vendors.

Shoppers can avoid the bag tax by bringing their own reusable bags.

The bill is now headed to Mayor Adrian Fenty for approval, and then to Congress. If signed by Fenty, the bill would take effect in January.

Mafara Hobson, a spokesperson for the mayor, tells WTOP, "Mayor Fenty has not decided whether or not to sign the legislation."

Fenty is out of town and could not be reached directly for comment.

The bill passed by a unanimous 13-0 vote, meaning there is more than enough support to override a mayoral veto.

Four out of every five cents of the money raised by bag fees will go toward cleaning the Anacostia River, which is polluted by 20,000 tons of trash each year.

The other cent will go to the businesses to offset the cost of implementing the bag tax.

Safeway has donated 10,000 reusable bags to a local nonprofit, which will then distribute bags to low-income families in D.C.

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