Santa Fe shoppers will be regretting not bringing their own bag to the grocery store this summer after the City Council approved a 10-cent fee for paper bags.
The Council voted 7-2 Wednesday to approve the fee after the ban on plastic grocery bags did not motivate enough people to bring their own reusable totes. The amendment to the city's shopping-bag ordinance will go into effect in 60 days.
When the plastic-bag ban initially included a fee, the City Attorney called it an impermissible tax. The Council now calls it an "environmental service fee."
Retailers will keep one penny of the bag fee and give the remaining 9 cents to the city. The money will be used for environmental education programs.
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