Video: Reusable bag reminder campaign launches

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SEATTLE - Many of us have grocery bags stashed in our car so we can use them next time we go to the grocery store, but how many times do you get to the checkout counter and realize you've forgotten them. Now there's a new push to help you remember.

More people are using reusable grocery bags. Some stores estimate anywhere from 3-25 percent of customers bring their own bags, but the majority of people are still relying on paper or plastic.

In the next week you'll start seeing more signs of the Washington Food Industry's choose reusable campaign. The goal: in one year to increase the use of reusable bags by 200 percent.

These days, you see people piling their groceries into purses or carrying them away in canvas.

But plastic is still the main player, even though people have the best intentions to bring reusable bags.

"I have so many you won't believe, but I frequently forget," said Ruth Kennedy, shopper.

That's why the Washington Food Industry (WFI) is rolling out a new program called "Choose Reusable" in order to help consumers re-train their brains. Grocery stores across Washington will start giving away car stickers and pepper stores with reusable bag reminder signs.

WFI would like the City of Seattle to partner with them on the campaign. The city tells us they'd be happy to, as long as the Washington Food Industry backs down from its opposition of the 20-cent paper and plastic bag fee headed for a ballot next year.

"It would be great to do the educational campaign and charge people who are not choosing to reuse," said Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President.

WFI has opposed that fee and believes it can achieve the city's goal through education alone.

"We didn't feel like taking more money out of our customers' pockets was the best approach," said Tyler Myers, Washington Food Industry.

Either way, the educational campaign will be moving forward and consumers will decide whether the lesson is better learned with a fee.

"I think for families it might add up after a while, so education might be a better thing," said one shopper.

The Seattle bag fee referendum could be on the ballot by August or November of 2009. Conlin says by that time so many people will be using reusable bags, it makes sense to charge those who aren't.

WFI feels the opposite of that. They believe a lot of people will be using bags by then - so many that you shouldn't have to charge.