Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Page updated at 03:04 PM
E-mail article 
Print view Share: 
Digg 
Newsvine
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.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article
Print view
Arson suspect has long history of setting fires
Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
Kirkland annex 'yes' could be slipping away
Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Boeing: 787 fix is complete on first plane
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
