Photo by Mr. T in DC.

Whenever D.C.’s five-cent bag tax is brought up, those opposed to it cite the tax’s supposed strain on businesses as a reason why the tax shouldn’t be imposed. One particularly memorable opponent even made the ridiculous assumption that the tax would force D.C. residents to take their retail dollars to Virginia and Maryland. But a new survey conducted by the Alice Ferguson Foundation appears to take most of the steam out of that argument.

The Foundation’s survey, which asked 51 local business owners what affect the bag tax had on their finances, showed that 78 percent claimed the tax had either a positive or neutral effect on their bottom line. (Before we get too carried away here, it’s important to note that the Ferguson Foundation is an environmental activism group.)

“When asked specifically what positives and negatives they see from the law, owners and managers mentioned a reduction in litter and a benefit to their bottom line withfewer bags purchased,” the report, which we’ve embedded after the jump, states. “Businesses said their customers have adjusted to the law, and there appears to be very little complaining aboutit by customers.”