Seattle votes down fee on plastic, paper bags

"Seattle voters' rejection of a 20-cent fee on plastic and paper bags represents a sound defeat for other efforts in U.S. cities to limit the use of the throwaway bags, plastics industry officials said Wednesday.

A referendum on an ordinance to charge the bag fee at grocery, drug and convenience stores was easily defeated in Tuesday's primary in this liberal city - whose voters are known for taxing themselves to pay for parks, libraries, affordable housing and other causes.

"If they can't do it there, they can't do anywhere," said Stephen Joseph, a San Francisco attorney with SavethePlasticBag.com, who has challenged several plastic bag bans in California."


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009692667_apusseattlebagfee.html


I guess that answers that burning question: how much are Americans willing to personally sacrifice to help the environment? Less than 20 cents a bag, apparently.

and passed it on to a member of our city's environmental quality commission. I had heard her mention that they were going to try and eliminate plastic grocery bags, perhaps with the information in the article and the precedent set by the Seattle case they can find a work-around and still come up with something. Not every battle will be won, but perhaps there are lessons to be learned to continue the fight.