I have to admit to doing a little plastic bag hoarding during the months leading up to implementation of Seattle's bag ban ordinance. I've long made use of these bags for secondary purposes, and I figured I might as well stock up while they were still available. Turns out, my fears were unfounded.

Two of the stores I frequent most, the Southeast Seattle Viet Wah and MacPherson's Produce on Beacon Hill, are still handing out plastic bags. According to the Public Utilities website there's an exemption for merchants to use the bags they already had on hand as of January 19, 2012, and both obviously stocked up. I had no idea.

So while I try to be conscientious about bringing reusable bags, when I don't, it makes no difference. I'm still collecting plastic bags faster than I can reuse them.