The nation's largest manufacturer of plastic bags Monday accused the Seattle City Council of a "rush to pass" a ban on plastic checkout bags and called the proposal a "simplistic" plan that does not address plastic litter in all of its forms.

On the same day the council introduced an ordinance that would ban plastic bags from grocers, retailers and department stores, a vice president for Hilex Poly conceded it was likely to pass. Seven of nine council members have signed on to the bill introduced by Councilmember Mike O'Brien.

Still, the company said it favored a more comprehensive, statewide approach to encourage and expand plastics recycling.

"While we expect the proposed ban to unfortunately be approved, we strongly believe that punishing consumers is the wrong approach to reducing plastics litter. In your rush to pass a ban, Seattle is missing an opportunity to lead the way in reducing plastics litter and creating green jobs," said Mark Daniels, Hilex Poly vice president for sustainability and environmental policy, in a letter to the council.

The Seattle ordinance is modeled on one adopted this year in Bellingham, which takes effect next summer. In addition to banning plastic carryout bags, the Seattle proposal calls for charging a 5-cent fee for paper bags to offset the cost of paper to the store and to remind shoppers to bring reusable bags.

Council members say the measure would help clean up Puget Sound and protect marine life.

At a news conference Monday to announce introduction of the ordinance, a number of grocers, mostly small alternative stores including PCC Natural Markets, voiced support for the proposal.

"Our experience demonstrates that (charging for bags) doesn't hurt sales and it levels the playing field for all retailers," said Webster Walker of Central Co-op/Madison Market. "When customers bring their own bags, its win win win win win."

Town & Country Markets, which has six grocery stores in the Seattle area including Greenwood Market and Ballard Market, also supports the plastic-bag ban.

"Getting plastic out of the system is the right thing to do," said Tony D'Onofrio, sustainability director for the markets.

He contrasted the current legislation to the city's attempt in 2008 to charge a 20-cent fee for both paper and plastic bags and to direct much of the money back to the city for education and recycling programs.

Seattle voters rejected the measure in 2009, after the American Chemistry Council got the measure on the ballot and spent $1.4 million to defeat the bag fee.

Of the new proposal, D'Onofrio said Monday, "The ordinance is simple enough to implement, and the 5-cent fee will offset some of the costs to grocers."

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @lthompsontimes.