Denver considers grocery bag surcharge

DENVER, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Officials in Denver are considering charging shoppers in the city a 10-cent surcharge for every paper or plastic bag they take from the grocery store.

The Rocky Mountain News reported Friday that the proposal would affect supermarkets with annual revenues of $2 million or more, and is aimed at encouraging shoppers to recycle grocery bags.

The proposal, still in its early stages, has drawn opposition from plastic proponents, the newspaper reported.

"We're generally opposed to any new tax or fee on our customers," said Chris Howes, president of the Colorado Retail Council, a trade association for national retailers doing business in the state.

"A lot of the stores are doing some creative things without government mandating that they do anything," he added.

But Deborah Hart of BetterBagsColorado, which is spearheading the proposal, said grocers are not doing enough to prevent bags from winding up in landfills. She noted less than 5 percent of shopping bags are recycled.

"The only way you're going to change your behavior, really, is to have a little ouch at the checkout because you get enough ouches and you'll make a new habit out of it," she said.