Princeton Has Legal Standing to Institute a Fee on Shopping Bags

It is within Princeton’s general police powers to reduce pollution and control pollution of the waterways, meaning the town can charge customers fees for single-use shopping bags if it can show those bags pose a threat to the environment, the Princeton Packet reports.

Municipal Attorney Trishka W. Cecil and Assistant Municipal Attorney Lisa M. Maddox offered their opinion in a nine-page document on June 15, according to the report.

Environmental groups have been pushing the town to become the first in the state to implement such a charge.

The town had been waiting for a legal opinion on the matter, but it was unclear what direction council would take now that it knows it has the legal standing to do so.

Read more at centraljersey.com.