Every year, Seattle residents go through 360 million disposable bags. For a city that prides itself on its environmental conscientiousness, the amount of waste it generates is surprising. In an effort to reduce this easily avoidable misuse of limited resources, Mayor Greg Nickels proposed a charge of 20 cents for both paper and plastic bags used by grocery, drug and convenience stores. The fee would be used to compensate for the waste generated by the bags, and proceeds would be used to promote and supply reusable bags and environmental and recycling education programs.

Nickels’ proposal is spot on. By putting a monetary equivalent to the environmental impact of these wasteful practices, it is just what a populace removed from the effects of their consumption need. Though many will never see the massive landfills or the consequences of oceans choked with plastic bags, the fee will hopefully remind us of the effect we all make. With a national government unwilling to take action to address the challenges of global climate change, economic degradation and the pervasive use of nonrenewable resources, this proposal would be a small but notable measure in locally addressing what the national government has failed to do.

In addition to combating this “waste fetishism,” the proposal would also contribute to expanding sustainable living practices outside the realm of personal initiative to that of governmental legislation — a development that is both crucial and seriously lagging. During the campaign for safe seat belt standards in the 1960s, when legislators became involved and started demanding safer cars from the automotive industry, car manufacturers started delivering.

Though the movement originated as a petition from a small group of consumer safety advocates, seat belt and automobile safety standards grew to be accepted as standard. And while Ralph Nader’s umpteenth attempt at the presidential race may be snickered at, he continues to be repected for recognizing the importance of automobile safety.

Likewise, though some may balk at Mayor Nickel’s proposal, in the future I believe plans like these will be regarded with a certain deference. In the same way that reaching for the seat belt in the car is automatic, using reusable bags while shopping could become instinctive. Indeed, in numerous European countries and a number of American cities that charge for bags, bringing reusable bags has become natural. A recently implemented plan in Ireland has reduced disposable bag usage by 90 percent.

Concerns voiced over the effect on low-income residents are valid, however. Though Nickels’ plan would give every Seattle household one reusable bag, the donation would not meet the demands of many households requiring more than one. While for most the purchase would not be problematic, for low-income households requiring as much money for food as possible, allowances should be made. Whether through the use of coupons, vouchers or donation, it should be guaranteed that this well-intentioned plan be within the resources of all.

Seattle should continue to walk its environmental talk and adopt Mayor Nickels’ proposal. As the mayor says, “the answer to the question ‘Paper or plastic?’ should be ‘Neither.’”

[Reach Sarah Gaither at opinion@thedaily.washington.edu.]