D.C. Bag Fee Costs Businesses Thousands of Dollars in Fines

The D.C. bag fee, which has raised millions of dollars to help clean up the Anacostia River, also cost local businesses thousands of dollars in fines.

According to records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, more than 100 businesses have been issued fines for failing to charge the bag fee.

The District Department of the Environment employs a secret shopper who routinely tests stores to see if they are collecting the 5 cent bag fee.

Offenders range from small mom-and-pop stores to nationwide chains.

Failure to collect the fee results in a $100 fine for the first offense and doubles with each subsequent offense.

Since 2009 the district has collected more than $16,000 in fines which go towards cleaning up the river. 

Montgomery County also fines businesses for failing to collect the bag fee. The fine in Maryland is $800, but so far no businesses have been fined. About 20 stores in Montgomery County have been issued warnings.

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