Conn. Lawmakers To Debate Proposed Grocery Bag Fee

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A bill that would impose a nickel fee for plastic grocery bags is up for debate at the Connecticut State Capitol.

The General Assembly's Environment Committee is scheduled Wednesday to hold a public hearing on the legislation and other bills that deal with everything from raw milk to outdoor wood-burning furnaces.

The proposed grocery bag fee has been an issue in recent years. The bill now requires proceeds to be collected for municipal recycling efforts.

Disposable bags affected by the legislation include paper or plastic sacks provided when goods are purchased. Reusable bags, bags used to cover dry cleaning and those used to protect delivered newspapers are exempted.

The legislation says the five-cent fee would not be charged to people using food stamps.

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