Starting Wednesday, Chicago will be nudging shoppers to BYOB — bring your own bag, that is.
A checkout tax of 7 cents per bag will be added at all Chicago retailers, the city’s latest attempt to cut down on the use of disposable bags, typically provided for free at checkout, which often end up in landfills.
The new tax replaces a ban on lightweight plastic bags, which city officials said wasn’t as effective as they’d hoped.
Here’s what you need to know when the bag tax goes into effect Feb. 1:
*It’s up to retailers to decide whether to pass the tax along to the customer or absorb the cost, but many — including Walgreens, Jewel-Osco, Whole Foods Market, Mariano’s, Target, CVS, PetSmart and T.J. Maxx — said shoppers will foot the bill. Whole Foods, Target and Mariano’s, all of which already provide an incentive for shoppers to bring their own bags by offering 5 to 10 cents back for each reusable bag used, will continue providing those rewards.
*Unlike the city’s earlier ban on lightweight plastic bags, the tax applies to disposable paper as well as plastic. It’s also 7 cents per bag, not per purchase, so bring a bunch if you’re hoping to avoid the tax on bigger shopping trips. Mariano’s said it will work with baggers to minimize the number used.
*Still haven’t purchased a reusable shopping bag? The city will be handing out up to 25,000 free, reusable “ChiBags” outside seven CTA stations around the city on Wednesday evening. Some stores also are providing free reusable bags to ease the switch: According to the city, Jewel-Osco will give out reusable bags to the first 100 shoppers at stores Saturday, Mariano’s will hand out coupons for a free bag to the first 100 shoppers at its stores Saturday, Target will give out bags to the first 200 shoppers at each store Wednesday and Whole Foods also will be giving bags away Wednesday, to the first 1,000 customers at each store.
*You won’t need to fork over the tax for bags used to package loose bulk items — like produce, nuts, grains and baked goods — or to wrap frozen foods at the grocery store. Same goes for paper prescription drug bags, dry cleaning bags and takeout restaurant bags.
*Stocking up on packs of garbage bags and Ziplocs? You won’t pay a tax on each bag in the box, but you would still pay 7 cents for a disposable bag to carry them home.
*The tax does not apply to bags used to carry items purchased with federal food stamp benefits like those received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Twitter @laurenzumbach
