Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today signed a bill that will require consumers to pay a five-cent tax to use plastic bags at grocery, convenience, and other retail stores in the District, several news outlets have reported.
The D.C. City Council gave final approval to the bill last month. The new law, which is designed to help clean up the Anacostia River, is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
Update, July 7
Mayor Fenty signed the bill into law today, D.C. news outlets have reported. The new tax will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
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The D.C. City Council gave final approval earlier this week to a five-cent tax on paper and plastic bags used by consumers at District establishments like grocery and liquor stores.
The council voted unanimously earlier this month to pass the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act of 2009, which aims to reduce pollution in the river. Plastic carryout bags are the largest single source of trash in the Anacostia, according to the bill, and the tax will affect all establishments that use the bags, including grocery stores, drug stores, liquor stores, restaurants and food vendors. The tax can be avoided by bringing your own reusable bags.
Four out of every five cents raised from the tax will go to the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund, which will be used for projects aimed at cleaning up the river. The remaining cent will go to businesses to help them offest the cost of the tax.
In order for the bill to take effect, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will have to approve it (or the Council must override his veto), and it must pass through a 30-day Congressional review period. If approved, it would take effect in January.
Newsroom covers breaking news and analysis, Metro news and crime, the GW Student Association and other topics as news evolves.
Traffic on the corner of 23 and F streets is now running in both directions after a two-car accident closed the northbound lane for over an hour Thursday evening. There were no injuries to either of the drivers or passenger in the striking vehicle, a red Honda.
The Office of Community Service hosted its annual Hunger Banquet Wednesday night, attracting approximately 70 guests on the premise of free food and a night free from J Street.
The pedestrian passageway that runs under Guthridge Hall will close Monday, Nov. 23 and remain out of service until Spring 2010, according to an e-mail Thursday from Residential Property Management.
Freshman Joseph Song woke up at 6:30 a.m. on Monday so he could be one of the first students of the day to register for classes. But like many students, Song ran into technical problems with the GWeb registration system that keep him from getting the classes he wanted.
Two students are facing drug charges after police seized marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia from a Foggy Bottom townhouse last month in a raid that yielded five student arrests.
BOSTON - With the game clock nearing expiration in Tuesday's first half, freshman Lasan Kromah officially announced his presence on this Colonials team. He did not say it with words, but instead etched it with a dagger, connecting from downtown on a pass from classmate Bryan Bynes and sending GW into the break with a six-point advantage and a crowd-kill
The Student Association's Dining Services Commission has met only once this semester and has made almost no progress on the changes to dining for which students have asked. Last year, the DSC pushed for lower prices, prompting Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz to ask Sodexo, the food service provider in the Marvin Center, to reconsider its
Steven Kelts balanced three boxes of pizza in one hand as he carefully removed his GWorld from his wallet and swiped into International House.
Vol. 106
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