In Washington, DC (lived there before TheVillages), you're charged 5-cents for a plastic bag. Funny how that would make such a difference, but if I or anyone I observed at checkout, forgets the recycled bags, we say "$.05!! forget it, I'll carry it!" Just charging a small amt, no matter if you can afford it or not, makes you conscious of the fact that you should not be wasteful. Took awhile but finally Maryland starting charging for plastic bags; not sure if VA finally went that route. But if you do take-out or buy from a liquor store in DC, the plastic bag is free. My husband & I threw everything we thought could be recycled into that specific trash can in DC (which the recycle trash guys picked up every week whether it was or not), and it was a learning experience to now only put paper/cardboard/cans/plastic bottles into the recycle bag. Seems that the recycling people did too good a job and have to help us un-learn that things we think can be recycled, can be thrown out in w/the regular trash.
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