Thanks for your comments. You bring up a lot of good points and I hadn't heard about the previous legislation in Boston. The main problem that I see with this legislation is, as you mentioned, that they will now charge for something that used to be free, which subsequently could put an substantial burden on Seattle's poorest residents.  
I think it could have been much stronger if the City Council had perhaps coupled this legislation with some sort stipulation to provide affordable canvas bags to food banks so that they would get to the neediest citizens. Otherwise, I think think that this is a great policy and more cities should follow suit. I think that, perhaps especially in Seattle, residents are becoming more ecologically aware and are more apt to support policies like this. I guess we'll see what happens...

Registered

What do you see as the main problem with this kind of legislation? Is it the fact that people will now have to pay for something that used to be free?  
 
I heard a proposal in Boston last year (which apparently did not go through) that plastic bags be banned in the city. Do you see a regulation like this as being more or less maddening for shoppers than the 20 cent fee in Seattle?  
 
Most stores where I've seen canvas bags are charging 99 cents for each bag. A family of four or five probably needs at least seven bags, I'm estimating, to do a week's worth of shopping. For some people, seven dollars is quite a lot. If the food banks succeed in distributing enough canvas bags, however, the expense shouldn't be a problem.  
 
Thank you for being so thoughtful about this new policy, and for bringing it to our attention.

Registered