City of Chicago Levies Tax on Bottled Water
I first learned of the tax several months ago when I received a letter from Tammy Steels, Executive Director of the Urban Sustainability Authority, based in Chicago.The Urban Sustainability Authority is a 5013c non-profit organization dedicated to environment and health.
The letter was sent to inform me that, effective July 1, 2008, the city had issued a special access tax on the sale of bottled water. The tax adds $1.20 to a case of bottled water purchased in Chicago. Urban Sustainability, www.urbansustain.org, is fighting to reverse this "misleading and unhealthy" tax. The group has created PROJECT H2GO as a way of saying no to Chicago's tax "on this planet's healthiest beverage".
It is assumed thast the tax was created to reduce the amount of plastic bottles in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard and yard waste are the top trash in landfills, not plastic bottles.
There are great many reason why water, essential to life on this planet, is not taxed in most of the world, except Chicago. I believe they are very obvious and that water in any form should not be taxed. What do you think? I'd also like to know how the Urban Sustainability Authority is progressing with PROJECT H2GO.
The letter was sent to inform me that, effective July 1, 2008, the city had issued a special access tax on the sale of bottled water. The tax adds $1.20 to a case of bottled water purchased in Chicago. Urban Sustainability, www.urbansustain.org, is fighting to reverse this "misleading and unhealthy" tax. The group has created PROJECT H2GO as a way of saying no to Chicago's tax "on this planet's healthiest beverage".
It is assumed thast the tax was created to reduce the amount of plastic bottles in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard and yard waste are the top trash in landfills, not plastic bottles.
There are great many reason why water, essential to life on this planet, is not taxed in most of the world, except Chicago. I believe they are very obvious and that water in any form should not be taxed. What do you think? I'd also like to know how the Urban Sustainability Authority is progressing with PROJECT H2GO.
Dear Sir,
I am from India and into water Industry from past 12 years, earlier the tax was a mere one but after VAT coming in India, bottled water is being taxed at 12.5% per bottle, i.e. if we charge 45 INR per 5 gallon bottle we pay up 5 INR per bottle. Other than this we pay up tax on PET bottles, caps and labels. So in all we are paying Tax on bottles, caps, labels and water. We are trying to oppose but nothing has been happening as of now.
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