Earth Equity News

Seattle Voters Reject 20-Cent Grocery Bag Fee. By Phuong Le, AP, August 19, 2009. "Seattle voters have rejected a 20-cent fee for every paper or plastic bag they get from supermarkets, drug stores and convenience stores. The city's incumbent mayor didn't fare much better than the fee, trailing two challengers in a bid for a third term. With about half the ballots counted in the all-mail vote, the bag fee was failing 58 percent to 42 percent in Tuesday's primary. City leaders had passed an ordinance to charge the bag fee, which was to start in January. But the plastics industry bankrolled a referendum to put the question to voters in Tuesday's election. Plastic bag makers have lobbied hard to defeat the fee, outspending opponents about 15 to 1."