Seattle eyes takeout-container banSeattle eyes takeout-container ban

SEATTLE Seattle’s mayor and City Council president jointly proposed Friday that the city ban polystyrene restaurant takeout containers as part of a new conservation push.

Mayor Greg Nickels and council president Richard Conlin also proposed that merchants charge customers 20 cents for every plastic or paper bag they’re provided as part of a transaction, but they limited the initiative’s scope to supermarkets, convenience stores and drug stores.

The civic leaders said the measures would cut down on the city’s trash output.

Foam-style restaurant containers have already been banned in a number of California towns and cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, Sausalito, Berkeley, Sonoma and Fairfax.