DENVER – The Denver City Council is considering a proposal that would levy a nickel fee per single-use plastic bags, the Denver Post reports. Councilwoman Debbie Ortega put forth the measure that immediately drew the ire of some residents and supermarkets.

Ortega pointed out that many U.S. cities and counties, including Aspen and Boulder, have similar plastic bag fees. Revenue from the 5-cent fee would be divided between grocery stores (2 cents) and the city (3 cents). Ortega estimates the city would receive $1.6 million in the bag fee’s first year, with those funds earmarked for litter cleanup, educational campaigns and giveaway bag purchases.

“This is an opportunity for Denver to lead,” she said about her proposal. The city mayor, Michael Hancock, hasn’t indicated his support of the measure yet.

The Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association opposes the bag fee because it only targets supermarkets, and not all stores that hand out plastic bags. “We are no different than other stores and newspapers,” said President Mary Lou Chapman.

One complaint said the fee amounts to a tax and therefore needed to become a ballot issue under Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). The council conferred with city lawyers to determine if the proposed fee would fall under TABOR. A council committee will talk about the proposal next week. If approved by the council, the fee wouldn’t go into effect until April 1, 2014.

Los Angeles passed a ban on plastic bags in June, while the California Senate shot down a statewide ban earlier this summer. Meanwhile, retailers are fighting a similar ban in Ontario.