A controversial proposal is being considered by Houston's City Council to possibly phase out the use of plastic bags at grocery stores.

District H council member Ed Gonzalez proposed the amendment to the mayor's $4 billion budget plan for next year.

Gonzales said the bags create too much pollution in the city's bayous.

District A council member Helena Brown disagrees and said the pollution is minimal.

She also said jobs in the plastic bag industry here in Houston would suffer if bags were phased out.

A committee will study the plan.

The bags have already been banned in Brownsville and a similar ban goes into effect in Austin next year.