Video: Momentum building to overturn Seattle grocery bag fee

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SEATTLE – Momentum is building to overturn the 20 cent grocery bag fee in Seattle.

Local groups as well as a state representative are stepping in to try and stop the law from going into effect in January that applies to all paper and plastic bags at grocery, convenience and drug stores.

Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, is drafting a bill to ban Seattle and other cities from charging for disposable bags.

Not everyone is backing Takko.

"If it keeps money coming into the city I could care less," said shopper Zach McCallister.

"People, if they're not going to take the initiative to buy reusable totes, then they may as well be charged for what they're doing for the planet," said shopper Anna Maccany.

Takko agrees less plastic is a good thing, but he worries taking paper bags out of the mix could put a huge dent in the state's economy.

"We grow trees and we make paper and we make paper bags and we recycle paper bags," said Takko.

He says discouraging paper bag use only chips away more at the timber industry, which is already hit hard by environmental rules, endangered species regulations and greener building.

He also questions why the bag fee only applies to grocery, convenience and drug stores.

"If bags are that bad, why aren't we doing it on the high end retail?" asks Takko.

He says most of the criticism he's heard is from people asking why not leave Seattle alone.

"Eventually it becomes something in the whole state," said Takko. "I just want to support our timber industry."

Many shoppers downtown already bring their own bags.

"This one I bought at Whole Foods it was 99 cents seems to work great I have lots of them," said Laura Kingsbury, who says it's a cheap investment for a long-term solution.

Rep. Takko hopes to introduce his bill when the legislature convenes in January.