"Most shoppers were responding good-naturedly to a new ban on plastic grocery bags that took effect on Sunday."
Continued at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...icbags02m.html
Jeanette Sifuentes walked out of the Safeway store in North Seattle, her purchases — a box of eggs, a package of bacon and other breakfast fixings — cradled in her arms, not in a bag.
It was not an uncommon sight outside drugstores, supermarkets and other retail stores in Seattle on Sunday as a citywide ban on carryout plastic bags took effect, catching some shoppers off guard.
Like many people, Sifuentes said she simply forgot to grab one of the four reusable totes from the trunk of her car.
So as a sort of self-punishment, she declined one of the free tote bags Safeway stores were giving away Sunday to the first 2,000 customers at each store.
"They are not always going to be giving away free bags," Sifuentes said. "I think it's going to take a change in habit, but I've got to start remembering to bring them."
Across the city, workers in supermarkets, drugstores, beauty-supply shops and other retail outlets were posing an entirely new question at the checkout counter: The ubiquitous refrain of "Paper or plastic?" replaced by "Did you bring your reusable bag?"
The new law, which the Seattle City Council approved in December, requires retailers to charge 5 cents for each paper bag they give out.
Some stores on Sunday were also charging 10 cents for heavier plastic bags — a choice the city left to their discretion.
Stores may offer small paper bags for free.
Small plastic bags used for meat, fruit and bulk items, as well as those used for dry cleaning and newspapers, are also exempt. Customers with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, used for food stamps, are exempt from the fees.
Retailers could be fined $250 for failing to comply.
Across Seattle, most people interviewed Sunday were either unaware the ban was now in effect, were confused about which retailers were required to comply, or simply forgot to grab their reusable bags from their house or cars.
It was not an uncommon sight outside drugstores, supermarkets and other retail stores in Seattle on Sunday as a citywide ban on carryout plastic bags took effect, catching some shoppers off guard.
Like many people, Sifuentes said she simply forgot to grab one of the four reusable totes from the trunk of her car.
So as a sort of self-punishment, she declined one of the free tote bags Safeway stores were giving away Sunday to the first 2,000 customers at each store.
"They are not always going to be giving away free bags," Sifuentes said. "I think it's going to take a change in habit, but I've got to start remembering to bring them."
Across the city, workers in supermarkets, drugstores, beauty-supply shops and other retail outlets were posing an entirely new question at the checkout counter: The ubiquitous refrain of "Paper or plastic?" replaced by "Did you bring your reusable bag?"
The new law, which the Seattle City Council approved in December, requires retailers to charge 5 cents for each paper bag they give out.
Some stores on Sunday were also charging 10 cents for heavier plastic bags — a choice the city left to their discretion.
Stores may offer small paper bags for free.
Small plastic bags used for meat, fruit and bulk items, as well as those used for dry cleaning and newspapers, are also exempt. Customers with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, used for food stamps, are exempt from the fees.
Retailers could be fined $250 for failing to comply.
Across Seattle, most people interviewed Sunday were either unaware the ban was now in effect, were confused about which retailers were required to comply, or simply forgot to grab their reusable bags from their house or cars.
... According to Seattle Public Utilities, Seattleites use 292 million plastic bags a year but recycle only 13 percent of them, resulting in clogged landfills and harm to Puget Sound wildlife.
Seattle is following the lead of a number of cities across the state, the country and the world — including Mexico City and Los Angeles — that have banned plastic bags.
Seattle is following the lead of a number of cities across the state, the country and the world — including Mexico City and Los Angeles — that have banned plastic bags.
We used canvas or durable plastic shopping bags that had to be bought beforehand in a shop that sold them. 
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