About two weeks ago, I was standing in the checkout line of Cleveland Park‘s Brookville Market, picking up a couple of condiments and spices to cook dinner with.  Once the cashier was done ringing up all of my items she kindly asked me, “Would you like to purchase a plastic bag for an additional five cent fee?”

I was caught frozen.  I had heard that the plastic bag tax had been approved, but this was my first time caught in the line of fire.

“Yes, please,” I said.

The cashier went to get a bag for my groceries when I shifted gears.

“Actually, I’ll pass.”

The cashier smiled and said “Okay”.

“You know what,” I said, suddenly catching myself flip-flopping again. “I WILL take a bag for five cents.”

She chuckled and displayed a smirk that clearly showed that she had seen this indecisiveness by a number of other shoppers prior to me.  That was my first encounter with the new “Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act of 2009″, also know as the “I can’t believe I have to pay for a plastic bag” tax.  In addition to five cents per bag, there is also a fee for plastic cups at carryout food establishments.

(Photo courtesy of TreeHugger.com)

The tax is geared toward cleaning up the Anacostia River and at scaling down the widespread overusage of plastic, non-environmentally safe plastic materials.

(Photo from NRDC)

While the initial frustration about the Protection Act is apparent throughout the city, I believe that in several years the “I can’t believe I have to pay for a plastic bag” tax will be widespread across the nation.  In today’s society of green living, a lifestyle that looks like it will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, the tax seems to, well, kind of make sense.

Many out of town DC condo buyers look to move into the District because of how progressive the city is, and my bet is that the bag tax will be considered status quo down the road.  But how do you feel about it? Let us know and, after you do so, remember to check out all our DC condo properties!