Forget about paper or plastic.

Florida could be the first state to ban the two bags altogether if a plan released Thursday by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection is approved, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

The plan works by way of taxes and escalating fees, which will start at a nickel a bag and end at a quarter of a dollar in five years.

To get an idea of the size of the problem, get this: Floridians used more than 5 billion disposable plastic and paper bags in 2003 (the most recent numbers available), reports the Orlando Sentinel.

You might have heard a lot of plastic bag talk lately: It has been the topic of city and county meetings across the nation: San Francisco banned the bags a while ago, and Los Angeles joined this week with a similar law. The topic was also brought up during a recent Miami Beach Commission forum.

However, no state has passed such a measure yet, which means Florida could lead the effort. The legislature will consider the proposal as early as next spring.

What do you think? Do you think the government should get involved in this issue? How can we correct the general consumer behavior? Are you already carrying your own reusable bags?

Photo by eflon