Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Page updated at 03:04 PM

Nickels, Conlin propose 20-cent fee for disposable grocery bags

Paper or plastic? Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and City Council President Richard Conlin say the answer is neither.

The two are proposing a 20-cent fee on disposable shopping bags at the city's grocery, drug and convenience stores. Their plan also calls for a ban on foam take-home containers, plates and cups at restauraunts.

Conlin and Nickels say paper and plastic bags and foam containers are all bad for the environment, and they hope charging a fee will encourage people to bring reusable bags when they shop.

The 20-cent fee per bag will be divvied up - 5 cents for the retailer, 15 cents for the city. But retailers grossing less than $1 million a year will keep the entire 20-cent fee.

Seattle Public Utilities estimates that 360 million disposable bags are handed out in the city every year - most of them plastic.

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