Letter: Woodstock bag fee is an unfair tax

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To the Editor:

I strongly object to bringing the bag tax back to Woodstock. We have lived without it for more than a year and can live without it in the future. The city stated in an article June 17 that the tax would bring in about $5,000 a month. At 10 cents a bag, that’s about 50,000 bags, twice the population of the entire city of Woodstock. By my calculation, that means a family of four that shops for groceries four times a month is taxed about an extra $3 a month or more. In addition, add all of the other businesses and carry-outs that use plastic bags for their customers. Paper bags are not practical for many goods. They tear easily, the bottoms fall out if they get wet, and you can only carry one or two at a time. At least you can carry four or five plastic bags at a time and not worry about the bottom falling out, even when wet. You don’t have to make as many trips to the car or up and down stairs. I use the plastic bags from the store in small trash containers throughout the house. I carry cans, bottles, glass containers and other recycling items to my recycling bins. I use plastic bags to store some things in my freezer. Every day, I see people walking their dogs while carrying a plastic bag. If I have extra bags, I recycle them. That means I’m throwing 10 cents a bag in the recycling bin. What a waste of money. It’s just another way the city is taking the citizens for a ride and laughing all the way to the bank. Don’t let this happen. We don’t need, or want, another tax. Attend the City Council meetings and voice your opposition to this unjust and unfair tax.

James K. Clegg

Woodstock