Single-Use Plastic Bag Fee In Edwardsville Begins In July

St. Louis MO

17 June, 2021

6:03 PM

Description

CBS St. Louis June 17, 2021 The city of Edwardsville is rolling out a fee on single-use shopping bags, both plastic and paper.Edwardsville officials approved a single-use bag fee in grocery stores and other large retail shops back in 2019 and was mean to being in 2020 but was delayed. Now the 10-cent fee will go into effect on July 12.Edwardsville is the first city in the region to implement a fee for paper and plastic bag use at stores. Across the country, hundreds of cities have either already banned or taxed the single-use bags.In Edwardsville the new ordinance is a fee, not a tax. According to the plan, it would apply to retail locations with a floor area of 7,000 square feet or greater. The retailers would keep the fees collected. It does not apply to bags used by customers inside stores for things such as: packaging of bulk items like fruit, vegetables and grain, wraps for frozen food, meat or fish, prescriptions, or bakery goods.Locations like farmers markets, fairs or restaurants that give out take-out food would also not be required to pay the fee.There would be no charge for a bag if the customer can prove they are participating in the Illinois Food Assistance Program.