On April 2, 2008 Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Council President Richard Conlin announced their proposal to adopt a 20-cent fee for each disposable paper or plastic shopping bag used in the city.

The Mayor’s proposal was approved by the City Council on July 28, 2008 as Ordinance Number 122752 and was to go into effect on January 1, 2009. The Ordinance refers to the proposed levy as an “advanced recovery fee” or “green fee” rather than a tax.

Implementation of the measure was delayed, however, when opponents gathered enough signatures to put the ordinance to a public vote as Referendum 1. Seattle residents will vote on the proposal at the primary election on August 18, 2009.

Read the full Policy Note here