The D.C. Council on Tuesday voted to levy a 5-cent fee on most plastic and paper shopping bags consumed in the District in an effort to slash their popularity and reduce river pollution.

The immediate goal of the legislation, which earned unanimous preliminary approval, is to encourage the use of reusable bags by instituting a fee on bags used by grocery stores, liquor stores, drugstores and convenience stores. The ultimate aim is to rid the Anacostia River of garbage by tackling one of the most common pollutants.