Got 10 cents — per plastic bag? Senate bill would require it

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 6:26 p.m.

CARSON CITY — A bill to require consumers to pay 10 cents per plastic bag used to carry purchases is still alive.

The Senate adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 397 to set aside the money collected from the 10 cent charge for cleanup projects.

If passed by the Legislature, starting Oct. 1 businesses would charge 10 cents to the customer for each plastic bag issued to the customer to haul merchandise. This charge would remain in effect until June 30, 2013, then plastic bags would be banned.

Exempted from the 10 cent charge would be bags used to cover clothes that have been dry cleaned. Merchants would be allowed to keep 10 percent of the money collected on the bags for administrative expenses.

The funds would be used by the state Division of Environmental Protection to award grants to local governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to enhance solid waste management systems, including cleanup of solid waste.

After the admendment was approved Tuesday, the measure was sent to the Senate Finance Committee.