Plan: Plastic Bag Phase-Out To Include $.10 Fee For Paper Bags

MADISON, CT — A new town law would take the phase-out of single-use plastic bags to the next level. To encourage people to shop carrying reusable bags only, an ordinance to amend the town code means shoppers would have to pay $.10 for recycled paper bags.

The rule would apply to all businesses that sell goods that can be bagged.

"The purpose of this initiative is to protect the environment in the Town of Madison, including
its coastline and marine life, for the benefit and welfare of its residents by encouraging the use
of Reusable Checkout Bags," the town says.

The ten cents a shopper would pay for a paper bag would be for the business owner to keep. And paper bags that are less than 40 percent recycled would be prohibited. Indeed, paper bags must be made from post-consumer recycled content, be 100 percent recyclable and say so on the bag.

Read the full ordinance here.

Madison Bag Ordinance by Ellyn Santiago on Scribd