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City of Athens Considering Disposable Grocery Bag Fee
By: Associated Press
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ATHENS, Ohio (AP) – The city that houses Ohio University is considering a proposal that would make it the first in the state to charge a fee for non-reusable paper and plastic grocery bags.
The Athens City Council plans to hear the proposed law first on Monday, which would place a 10-cent fee on disposable bags.
Businesses would keep the proceeds, which could only be used for costs related to complying with the law, such as providing reusable and single-use bags, displaying informational materials and training staff and administrators.
If passed, large stores would have to start charging bag fees in November. The remaining stores would then start levying the fee in May 2017.
An Ohio environmental group says clogged sewers and plastic bag-filled landfill equipment mean taxpayers are already paying for disposable bags.