Video: Seattle grocery stores to charge for disposable bags

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SEATTLE - Starting next year, shoppers at Seattle stores will have to bring their own bags to carry their purchases home or face a 20 cent per bag fee.

The Seattle City Council voted 6-1 to impose the fee on disposable paper and plastic bags starting January 1.

Only Jan Drago voted against it. She supports the idea, but warns the city is getting pushy.

"The day will come in this city when people will say 'enough is enough. This council, this mayor, this city have asked too much,'" said Drago.

The idea is to encourage reusable, rather than disposable, bag use, and it's been met by a chorus of loud debate in city council chambers.

By some estimates, Seattleites use 360 million disposable shopping bags each year.

People on both sides of the issue have tried to sway the vote of city council members.

Those supporting the fee are concerned about the litter left behind by plastic bags.

Grocers worry that a fee will discriminate against lower income customers.

"And I think after a couple of months if implementation, we'll all look back and wonder what the fuss was all about," said councilmember Tim Burgess.

Also, taking affect January 1 is a ban on Styrofoam food and beverage containers. Stores will also have to find alternatives for clear plastic containers and plastic forks and spoons, which will be banned in 18 months. Many compostable alternatives are already being used.

Results of SurveyUSA News Poll on Seattle grocery bag fee

Geography Surveyed: City of Seattle

Data Collected: 07/28/2008

Sponsor: KING-TV Seattle

Survey

The Seattle City Council will vote today on whether or not to charge a 20 cent fee for each grocery bag you receive at grocery stores in the city of Seattle. Do you think this is a good idea? Or a bad idea?
Good Idea	36%
Bad Idea	62%
Not Sure	2%
If the plastic bag fee became law, would you continue to shop as you do now? Would you shop outside city limits to avoid the charge? Or would you bring your own bags to the store with you?
Continue To Shop As You Do Now	21%
Shop Outside City Limits	29%
Bring Your Own Bags	49%
Not Sure	1%
The city says the money generated from the plastic bag fee would go toward environmental programs. How confident are you that the money would really go toward environmental programs? Very confident? Somewhat confident? Not very confident? Or not at all confident?
Very	8%
Somewhat	22%
Not Very	32%
Not At All	35%
Not Sure	2%