The public will be asked to comment on a city proposal that would ban certain uses of "expanded" polystyrene and encourage people to use reusable shopping bags, says Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.
The hearing will on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers downtown.
"This legislation encourages choices that will help marine mammals in the Puget Sound, reduce litter, and cut greenhouse gas emissions," Conlin said.
One part of the package would create a compulsory fee of 20 cents for disposable shopping bags provided at convenience, drug, and grocery stores beginning on January 1, 2009. Seattle Public Utilities estimates 360 million disposable bags are used in the city every year.
The proposal focuses on these stores because they are the source of more than 70 percent of all disposable shopping bags distributed. The fee would apply to both paper and plastic and the city claims this would reduce the use of disposable bags by more than 50 percent, or at least 184 million bags annually.
"This proposal gives people options, and I'm very pleased that we plan to provide reusable bags to seniors and low-income people before this program would take effect," said Council member Sally Clark.
Seattle Public Utilities is developing an aggressive outreach plan to put free reusable bags in the hands of seniors and low-income households, should the measure be approved by the Council. In order to make the change easier on businesses, retailers will keep 5 cents of every bag to cover administrative costs. Businesses grossing less than $1 million annually, whose administrative costs are higher, will keep the entire 20-cent fee.
Most of the funds generated will be used to offset a portion of city says is a needed solid waste rate increase and part will go to support Seattle Public Utilities' waste prevention and recycling programs.
Another part of the new proposal would ban "expanded" polystyrene food containers from restaurants and meat/seafood packaging from grocery stores, beginning January 1, 2009. City officials say expanded polystyrene foam not only adds to the waste stream, but also presents a hazard for birds because it breaks up into indigestible pellets.
The Council's Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee will hear a report and recommendations on the legislation Tuesday, June 24, at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers. The public comment period will remain open until Friday, July 11. For more information about the proposal or public comment opportunity, go to www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/
