A month ago, we were excited to report that the city of Washington D.C. was considering a fee on all paper and plastic bags, and now we are ecstatic to follow that up with the news that the District of Columbia approved the 5-cent fee. The fee was fought by Republicans and plastic bag industries, but the council was swayed by studies that showed charging for plastic bags could eliminate up to 47 percent of trash in the Anacostia watershed tributaries and 21 percent from the Anacostia River’s main stem. That’s D.C.’s way of saying “NO” Big Oil, we won’t let you pollute our waterways! Safeway Grocery Stores will join the effort by donating to 10,000 low-income families as well as select non-profits.
The District has certainly shown us the way and the city of Seattle should stay in this vanguard by approving Referendum 1 on August 18. Seattle Public Utilities estimates the 20-cent fee will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40%— about 112,000 tons over 30 years, roughly 4,000 tons per year or the equivalent of taking 665 cars off the road. Imagine what that will do to protect our own waterways.
Like The District, Seattle also has plans to donate free reusable bags to elderly and low-income families. It’s a win-win-WIN scenario for Seattle!
