Seattle Voters Reject Plastic Bag Tax

Voters in Seattle voted down a 20-cent tax on plastic and paper shopping bags at retailers, including grocery stores, drug stores and convenience stores, throughout the city. The tax had been passed by the Seattle City Council last year and was set to be implemented this past January.

According to press reports, The Progressive Bag Affiliates, a group of the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) that unites plastic bag manufacturers, spent $1.4 million to overturn the ordinance, while supporters of the tax were only able to counter with less than $100,000.

“Most Seattle residents already reuse plastic bags and many also are aware that they can recycle them,” says Steve Russell, vice president, plastics, of the ACC, based in Arlington, Va. Russell says polling data show more than 90 percent of Seattle residents reuse and recycle plastic bags.

Seattle shoppers today can bring plastic shopping bags, dry-cleaning bags, bread bags, wraps from paper towels and bathroom tissue—even plastic bags used to deliver newspapers—to grocery stores and other participating retailers for recycling.

“Like other cities that have looked at this issue, Seattle has chosen to continue to reuse plastic bags and expand recycling opportunities as the best way to fight litter and to protect the environment,” Russell says.
He says recycling legislation in New York, California, Rhode Island, Delaware and cities across the country is expected to increase the amount of plastic bags and wraps that are turned into new consumer products.