On Thursday, January 12, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34, Squee) will formally introduce a bill to ban the use of disposable plastic and paper bags in Washington state. Fitzgibbon's bill is closely modeled after legislation recently passed in Seattle (which was itself modeled after legislation passed in Bellingham).

Specifically, the legislation would limit retail stores to only providing the following types of checkout bags:

·Checkout bags that are made of reusable machine-washable textile materials;

·Checkout bags that are made of reusable plastic that is at least 2.25 mils thick and is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse; and

·Checkout bags that "satisfy the definition of recycled paper bags," i.e. paper bags made with at least 40 percent recycled fiber. However, the legislation directs stores to charge five cents (or more) for these recycled paper bags to all customers not enrolled in food stamp or federal voucher programs.

Finally, the legislation notes that grocery stores would still be able to stock smaller plastic bags commonly used for packaging fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, nuts and other bulk items, dairy products, etc., free of charge.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Environment, and is slated to have its first reading in early February. If passed by the legislature, Washington would become the first state to ban the use of disposable plastic bags. Four cities—Seattle, Bellingham, Edmonds, and Mukilteo—have already banned their use. (Just pinch our asses and call us trendsetters!)