Dallas may be the next big city in Texas to embrace a plastic bag ban in stores. Such environmental extremism does nothing but harm consumers who face higher costs and fewer choices. Of course, that hasn’t stopped other Texas cities from instituting similarly draconian policies.
Brownsville was the first Texas city to ban plastic bags, requiring consumers to purchase city approved “reusable” bags or pay $1 for every conventional bag.
Not to be outdone, Austin quickly reminded everyone a few months later how much more they love bigger government. They instituted arguably the toughest ban in the nation – outlawing both plastic and paper bags by 2013. Consumers couldn’t pay a fee for a regular bag even they wanted to.
Reusable bags may be the only thing Dallas residents can use when shopping for groceries if the city bans plastic bags
Now Big D may soon be known for Big Government, too.
Today, the city’s Transportation and Environment Committee is scheduled to “debate” the merits of imposing a similar ban on plastic bags.
It’s not yet known just how far city officials will go to collude against local consumers. An initial proposal doesn’t phase out plastic bags until 2021, but details are likely to change throughout the process.
The City of Austin had to manipulate their facts in order to rally support behind their ban. Dallas taxpayers should look very closely at any facts presented in support of a ban.
