Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:03 pm
*The image is from "San Francisco Considers Styrofoam Ban"


The Seattle City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 20-cent bag fee and foam ban today at 7 p.m., Council Chambers in Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., second floor.
20-cent bag fee: If passed, shoppers would pay 20 cents for each disposable plastic or paper bag used at grocery, convenience and drugstores starting in January. Stores would keep a nickel to cover the cost of administering the fee. Small stores that gross less than $1 million annually would keep the entire 20 cents. Each household would receive at least one free, reusable shopping bag.

Foam ban: Restaurants and grocery stores would have to switch from Styrofoam or other polystyrene containers and cups to plastic or biodegradable alternatives in January. In July 2010, the ban would expand to include plastics, such as utensils and deli containers. Businesses would have to use all biodegradable containers.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:06 pm
That is good news. Hope more will follow! Thanks.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:39 pm
I think this is great. I hope this ordinence will pass. More should follow this example. Because it hits us where it hurts and for most of us, its our money. 20 cents adds up, so I hope more will use reusable bags of some sort.
Where I live currently in Hartford, Connecticut, They call the city "Rising Star" because they are trying to be more Green... To be honest this place is an excuse for "Green" Commerce to thrive. Packaging hasnt decreased, developemnts increase (Building houses, in whatever nature we have left) People still drive like maniacs, and speedracers down country streets, killings animals in their way.
Not to mention our very unhealthy Long Island Sound. Oysters, clams and other bottom dwellers suffercate in its toxic waters due to its anoxic waters. People here hardly use public transportation, they all drive landrovers and big trucks/SUVS, while sporting their "Go Green" bumper stickers.
Its all politics and personal interest here.
Its good to see that SFO is the rising star for change in this country.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:50 pm
It's about freaking time !!!Every city in this world needs to do this !!!

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:59 pm
Do you remember this about him?
Stop Buying Bottled Water, Nickels Urges Seattleites
http://www.care2.com/news/member/414211311/735226

He is really interesting, he also finds Seattle tab water yummy.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 12:37 am
Great news The world should follow this lead - I am going to send this link to our PM, Environment minster and local council Charles thanks for forwarding

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 6:35 am
Great to know! All cities should follow! :)

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 12:17 pm
I think they should charge more for plastic and paper bags...I take my own cotton bags when I go shopping and I recycle paper, cardboard, glass and plastics.
Bottled water is not regulated like tap water, so you don't know how safe it is and plastics leach chemicals into the water, so don't buy it and use filtered tap water instead.
Noted, thanks.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 2:08 pm
Ggrrrrrrreeeeeeaaaaaatt news!
hope it catches all over the world!Rz

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 2:13 pm
I applaud them!! This is a serious situation that needs to be treated as such. I wish the rest of the country could be this progressive.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 3:50 pm
Do people still use paper or plastic? Sad, that a minimal thing EVERYBODY can and should do. Even China has outlawed plastic bags and their supposed to be "communist".Go Seattle! Go America! Thx Mirror!

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 7:52 pm
this is good. locally there is milk in glass bottles with a 2.00 deposit and that is a good idea, people throw out the ones with no deposit and even the soda ones for 5 cents. food places could do the same with better packaging

Thursday July 10, 2008, 1:51 am

Great ideas! Thank you.