Giving "The Emerald City" a whole new meaning

A 20-cent grocery bag fee, huh Mayor Nichols? Well why the heck not, I say.

...Besides, anything that gives me a chance to buy a new bag is a-okay by me. Personally, I currently rock the large Fred Meyer tote but am seriously considering upgrading to something cuter.

Other fun facts:

• Seattle Public Utilities estimates the city uses 360 million bags a year, or 600 per person (OMG)
• Per SPU, the city would collect $10 million per year from this initiative -- Approximately $2 million would go to provide and promote reusable bags, and the rest would go toward waste prevention, recycling and environmental-education programs.
• Mayor Nichols rocks at this "being green" thing. In the past year he's ended the purchase of bottled water by city departments, proposed requiring all new Seattle taxis to get at least 30 miles per gallon and hosted a conference for U.S. mayors on climate change where he persuaded more than 700 mayors to sign on to a pledge to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions based on the Kyoto Protocol.

Seems it really is easy being green (...I couldn't resist!).