It's not about eco-karma or mamacorps, and it's not actually a fee/tax. It simply prevents the fact that if you give something for free, people will waste it -

It's not about eco-karma or mamacorps, and it's not actually a fee/tax. It simply prevents the fact that if you give something for free, people will waste it - it's a consumerist instinct. I've lived through both conditions and I found horrifying how people would take large amounts of bags, at stores, and napkins, at restaurants, just because they were free. Set a minimal fee, and clients will start to take just what they need, and no more (which paradoxically, is the opposite instict - not to waste money).