A newly released study shows that 80 percent of D.C. residents now use fewer plastic bags since the five-cent fee law was enacted in 2010.

Likewise, 79 percent of businesses polled for the District Department of the Environment survey, authored by OpinionWorks, say they provide fewer bags. Just 16 percent of residents and eight percent of businesses polled oppose the law.

Six-hundred, randomly-selected residents were surveyed between January 16 and 20 of last year through landlines and cell phones, while 177 businesses tasked with enforcing the law were interviewed in-person and by phone between February 14 and April 9 of 2013. The report was finished in October and was released today to mark the fourth anniversary of the law’s enactment.

“This survey data confirms the significant progress the District is making toward reducing plastic bag litter and restoring health to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and their tributaries,” Keith A. Anderson, director of DDOE, said in a release. “I am pleased that the Bag Law has reduced disposable bag use and garnered public support, while also saving money for many businesses.”

The largest issue the survey found was the low awareness of where money raised through the fee goes, with 61 percent of those surveyed saying they don’t not know what happens to it. (The funds are used to clean up of the Anacostia River, provide reusable bags to residents and educate the public.)

Still, 38 percent of those surveyed thought the purpose of the tax was to raise money for either the D.C. government or another purpose, while a slight majority, 51 percent, said it was to encourage people to use fewer plastic bags.

Here are some other tidbits from the study:

  • 79 percent of those polled say they use reusable bags
  • 74 percent of businesses say they’ve seen an increase in customers bringing their own bag or bags
  • 69 percent of businesses say the fee has had a positive or no impact on them, with most of the negativity focused at complaints from out-of-town customers
  • 50 percent of businesses say they’ve saved money
    • Filed Under: bag fee, bag tax, department of the environment, plastic bags,