Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland may follow Seattle and become the second Northwest city to impose a tax on disposable grocery bags, perhaps by the end of the year.

Few, if any, other Northwest cities are rushing to join them.

Joe Gilliam is president of the Northwest Grocery Association, which fought the Seattle tax. He says several cities along the I-5 corridor will be monitoring Seattle.

Joe Gilliam: “I think everybody in the Seattle area, from Renton to Bellingham, and I think in the Portland area, its entire metro area, is looking at it. Haven’t heard a thing east of the Cascades. That’s a funny thing. I think the more rural areas you get in the Northwest, times are tight, people’s paychecks are tight, I just don’t think people are looking for a new tax on groceries.”

The Seattle group Bring Your Own Bag helped to win support for the tax. Dan Lundquist from the group is ready to export the message.

Dan Lundquist: “We’ve been working full-time right now, working on our own city, which is a priority. But now that this is passed through we will start engaging other municipalities and striking up their interest.”

Several cities east of the Cascades are developing their own plans for consuming less energy and emitting less carbon. But representatives from Boise, Lewiston and Yakima say they’re not interested in levying a new fee.

Northwest Grocery Association

Bring Your Own Bag