It’s been just over a month since the plastic bag tax began to take place across Connecticut. For many, the option to pay the extra 10 cents for these bags is still a difficult adjustment to make. And while some places offer reusable bags as an alternative option, in some areas it is the only reliable option to take.

Within a number of municipalities and stores, the ban on plastic bags is already taking place, according to the Hartford Courant. Some of which include Glastonbury, Mansfield, Middletown and our very own New Britain.

Although the new bill states the ban on plastic bags will not be in full effective until 2021, the New Britain Council voted in February 2019 to completely ban the use of plastic bags by August 2019. At this time, other towns and cities began to people charge a 10 cents fee for the bags to help eliminate their use.

Although it is an environmentally friendly choice, the decision to ban plastic bags within the city seems to be a bit rash. For starters, many did not know of the bag tax until it was in action, let alone banned in some areas.

Realizing halfway through grocery shopping that the ever-growing reusable bag collection is growing due to one’s forgetfulness is quite tedious. Now it is just another bag added to the pile of eco-friendly products not being used.

At least with a plastic bag tax, there is a transitional phase to a complete ban.

In many ways, it is unfair to state that the ban on plastic bags will not be in full effect until 2021 and then ban all plastic bag use in 2019.

Families and other residents everywhere most likely believed that they would have more time to adjust and get into a routine and even perhaps purchase their reusable bags instead of being forced to pay an extra 10 cents for every bag they need when shopping.

Although it may not seem like much, paying for those bags can get expensive when some grocery stores only give the option for paper bags, meaning citizens will have to keep spending to carry their groceries.

If a standard family goes shopping once a week and needs at least 10 bags to carry their groceries, that means spending $4 a month and $46 on the year.

This does not include every time anyone runs into a store quickly and does not realize they need to bring their reusable bag in to carry their purchased items out of the store.

Many will not want to go through the hassle of bringing a reusable bag to the store and will think “it’s only 10 cents,” when asked if they would like to purchase a bag.

Falling into that kind of routine could be dangerous as many would lose sight as to how many times they are actually purchasing a 10 cent bag.

As a college student who does not have any money to spare, I would definitely appreciate and would want to keep all the money I can instead of spending extra every time I go to the store.

Banning plastic bags is environmentally better, but the sudden change to people’s lives with no adjustment period could affect many families and other residents like college students all over as they are asked to spend more than necessary on a day to day basis.