Target Customers May Face a New Bag Charge at Checkout

Target shoppers in Illinois are set to encounter an added charge at the register when using plastic bags during checkout.

In Highland Park, a proposal under consideration would impose a 15-cent fee on plastic and other single-use bags at stores, as the city moves toward a full ban on those bags by 2030. According to the U.S. Sun, the charge would begin on July 1, 2027.

The city council had previously suggested a 10-cent fee, but Assistant City Manager Erin Jason said the amount was viewed as too low.

“We originally came up with 10 cents in April. Then the conversation became ‘Is that enough to change behavior?’” Jason said. “So, we looked at other communities like Oak Park, who made the decision to elevate their single-use bag tax to 15 cents next year, and go with that.”

A local news outlet found that about 53% of survey respondents opposed the new tax, while supporters said they backed it because of the environmental benefits they expect.

Shoppers outside Illinois may see similar bag fees or even outright bans spread to more cities as well. Target drew criticism after it began charging for bags on curbside pickup orders, at times collecting $1 in advance for 10 bags in certain states starting in 2023.

At present, 12 states have fully banned single-use plastic bags: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

California has also tightened its rules by closing a loophole that allowed thicker plastic bags marketed as reusable but often used only once. Those bags are now banned too, and consumers must use recycled paper bags or bring reusable ones.

There is still no federal ban on plastic bags, but environmental advocates continue to push for one. Beyond the states that have acted, more than 200 counties and municipalities have adopted rules that either charge for plastic bags or prohibit them entirely.

The restrictions are not limited to bags. In New Jersey, a law that took effect recently bars restaurants from including plastic utensils in takeout orders unless customers request them.

Many states are also moving away from plastic straws in favor of paper alternatives, even though they often break down before a drink is finished.