Seattle Bag Tax

Greetings

Welcome to www.SeattleBagTax.org. This site has been put together in order to compile the numerous articles, studies and information that Seattle citizens should look at as they consider their position on the approved bag tax and polystyrene ban. If you know of other articles or studies please contact us and we will add them to the list.

Who are we? We are a group of economists who make up the Northwest Economic Policy Seminar. We have no connections with the plastic bag industry and have received no remuneration in any form for looking and commenting on this issue. Our mission at the Seminar is to use our skills and training to help inform the public and develop and comment on public policy issues.

The Seattle City Proposal and the study commissioned by the city on the issues are the primary policy documents for the bag tax and polystyrene ban. A study we did on our own and a letter we sent to the City Council and Mayor are the only pieces we have produced. The rest of the information is from elsewhere around the world. We recommend as you go through them that you note the authorship. Though most of the articles and research looks clean, much of it is by industry groups who may have an interest in the issue.

Our own conclusion is that the tax and the ban are going to have little if any effect on the environment and may well waste resources that could be better used elsewhere such as adopting a program similar to New York City's private/public plastic bag recycling initiative. (see our Letter to the Seattle City Council and Analysis of the Seattle Bag Tax and Foam Ban Proposal).

We hope you look carefully at all the information compiled here and that it helps you come to a well-informed opinion of the proposed bag tax and styrofoam container ban.

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City of Seattle Resources

Proposed Foam (EPS) Ban and Fee on Disposable Shopping Bags
from the Seattle City Council website
as of July 24, 2008
Proposal to Tax Disposable Shopping Bags
Proposal to Ban Styrofoam Containers

Ordinance on the Disposable Bag Fee and Styrofoam (EPS) Ban
from the City Clerk's Office as of August 14, 2008
Disposable Bags:
Ordinance No. 122752, Council Bill No. 116251
Syrofoam Containers:
Ordinance No. 122751, Council Bill No. 116250

Alternatives to Disposable Shopping Bags and Food Service Items
Prepared by Herrera Environmental Consultants, Inc.
for Seattle Public Utilities
January 2008
Volume I
Volume II

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News Briefing

June 26 - Poll: Seattle may say 'no' to grocery bag tax from the Seattle P.I.
"A new Survey USA poll done for KING5 TV shows that Seattleites may finally say 'no' to a tax proposal..."

June 21 - NC House OKs Plastic Bag ban On Outer Banks from MyNC.com
"The House voted 78-41 on Thursday to require stores to use paper bags or have their customers bring in reusable bags. The bag ban would only effect large stores on the tourist-centric islands of Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties..."

June 19 - Philadelphia Council rejects plastic-bag ban from The Philadelphia Inquirer
"City Council yesterday voted down a measure - two years in the making - that would have nixed carry-home plastic bags from major stores, allowing only paper, compostable plastic, and reusable bags..."