DENVER—The Denver City Council is mulling a proposal that would charge grocery and convenience store customers five cents for every paper or plastic bag they use.
The Denver Post reports ( ) the council is scheduled to cast its first vote on the proposal Monday, and a final vote and public hearing are set for Sept. 30.
Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, who put the proposal together, says it’s meant to change consumer behavior and get people to bring reusable bags to the grocery store. But Denver Mayor Michael Hancock opposes the fee and has hinted at a veto.
His chief sustainability officer, Jerry Tianiow, issued a memo Monday saying a fee would only eliminate a “tiny fraction of waste sent to landfills.”
About 150 cities across the country, including Boulder and Aspen, have bag fees.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
