A year after Portland banned large stores from offering

, the Portland City Council is now

to all businesses and requiring a new 5-cent charge for customers who want paper.

The expansion is one of several options being presented to city leaders on Wednesday by the

, which is overseeing the program. Last year's plastic ban applied to almost 170 stores with either gross annual sales above $2 million or large retailers with more than 10,000 square feet and a pharmacy.

The city received data from 23 retailers tied to the Northwest Grocers Association. According to a city report, reusable bag use increased 304 percent and highly recycled paper bag use increased 491 percent.

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The bureau also reported receiving fewer than five consumer complaints about non-compliance at stores.

Officials are now suggesting the city

Those include:

Maintain the current policy.

Expand the existing policy to all retail businesses.

Expand the existing policy to all retail businesses and require a 5-cent charge for paper bags.

But the three-page report doesn't make any formal recommendations, although it does highlight that several other cities instituted charges for paper bags. When the City Council approved the program last year, officials called on the bureau to make

The City Council will not vote on any options Wednesday.

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