Chicago Repeals Plastic Bag Ban, Delays Tax

The city of Chicago says it will repeal its plastic bag ban effective Jan. 1, 2017 and will delay its new bag tax until Feb. 1.

The city told businesses last week the delay was considered to give businesses time to the work the tax into point of sales systems, the newspaper reports.

Each time a store is visited without bringing a reusable paper or plastic bag, shoppers will be charged an additional seven cents for each bag needed to pack their goods.

The 7 cents-a-bag fee was a compromise decided on when Mayor Rahm Emanuel agreed to lift the plastic bag ban in the city. It’s expected to generate roughly $13 million a year, with the city receiving about $9.2 million and the additional amount going to store merchants.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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