SEATTLE -- There's a new effort to trash the 20-cent fee for bags at Seattle grocery stores and a coalition of grocers is hoping to get the city to scrap the idea.

The Washington Food Industry is gathering signatures to try and overturn that bag-fee ordinance. The group represents independent grocers like Metropolitan Market and Red Apple Market.

Leaders of the group said they don’t believe shoppers should be forced to pay 20-cents for a paper or plastic bag and shouldn’t be forced to bring reusable bags to the store. The group said customers don't need an additional expense on their grocery bill and suggest education and a voluntary program instead.

The fee goes into effect January 1, but the Washington Food Industry is trying to collect more than 14,000 signatures for a referendum to get rid of the bag-fee ordinance.

The city said shoppers don't have to pay extra every time and that they can use the plastic or paper bags again.

The grocer group plans to have volunteers out collecting signatures in the coming weeks and they hope to soon have a Web site. The group has until August 28 to get all of the signatures.