Recycling goal in Seattle to be acheived through plastic bag fee

May 20, 12:13 AMSeattle City Buzz ExaminerRyan Burr

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 Will assessing customers at grocery, drug and convenience stores a 20-cent fee for using paper and plastic bags achieve the Seattle City Council’s objective to reduce overall waste and increase recycling efforts?

I haven’t heard an outcry from the masses about such a fee, but a coalition funded largely by the American Chemistry Council--a trade group representing plastic manufacturers—has effectively opposed it.

In July 2008, Seattle became one of the first major American cities to discourage the use of paper and plastic shopping bags by requiring grocery, drug and convenience stores to charge 20 cents per bag. The new rule was to take effect Jan. 1, but in August of 2008 the coalition collected more than enough valid signatures to keep the ordinance from going into effect.

The City Council, then, opted to put the question of a "green" bag fee directly before voters on primary election day, Aug. 19.

Seattle Public Utilities has estimated that 360 million disposable bags are used in the city every year. The fee, which could add a couple of dollars to the weekly grocery bill, is expected to cut that number in half.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels supports the City Council’s long-term goal of 70-percent recycling, an increase from the current 60-percent goal.

For more info: See the text of the plastic bag fee ordinance