Plastic Bag Controversy
Conlin sponsored the 2007 Zero Waste Strategy, Resolution 30990 which directed Seattle Public Utilities to produce recommendations on how to eliminate residential solid waste, including whether to ban or tax plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam food containers. In 2008 Conlin sponsored Seattle's Bag Fee Law, a 20-cent surcharge on bags. Businesses with under one million dollars in annual sales were exempt and got to keep the money. The measure passed the city council by a 6-1 margin.
On August 8, 2008, Washington Food Industry, a trade group representing grocery stores, launched a petition drive against the ordinance, funded in part by the plastics industry. On September 15, the petition was certified by the King County Elections Office, delaying implementation of the fee until after a public vote. On August 18, 2009, Seattle voters rejected the fee, 53 to 47 percent.
Read more about this topic: Richard Conlin
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