Seattle Council Discussing Styrofoam Ban, Plastic and Paper Bag Fee
The Seattle City Council will hold a public hearing today on Mayor Greg Nickels’ proposal to ban foam containers and impose a plastic/paper bag fee at local stores, reports the Seattle Times.
It is expected the proposal will gain approval. If passed, all restaurants and grocery stores would have to find a non-foam container alternative, and a 20-cent fee would be imposed on each plastic or paper bag used in the checkout line at all grocery, convenience and drugstores.
The foam ban would take effect in two stages. Beginning in January, foam products would be banned, but restaurants and grocery stores could switch to plastic products if they had not yet found a biodegradable alternative. By July of 2010, plastics would also be banned and only biodegradables allowed.
Some members of the city council question the financial impact of the bans, especially to low-income families. The city plans to supply some homes with resuable bags for free.
Do you have bags waiting to be recycled in your home? Use Earth 911 to recycle your paper and plastic bags.
