San Francisco Passes Plastic Bag Ban

City leaders approved a ban on plastic grocery bags after weeks of lobbying on both sides from environmentalists and a supermarket trade group.
San Francisco would be the first U.S. city to adopt such a rule if Mayor Gavin Newsom signs the ban as expected.

The law, approved 10-1, requires large markets and drug stores to offer customers bags made of paper that can be recycled, plastic bags [made from corn byproducts] that breaks down easily enough to be made into compost, or reusable cloth.

San Francisco supervisors and supporters said that by banning the petroleum-based sacks, blamed for littering streets and choking marine life, the measure would go a long way toward helping the city earn its green stripes.


SOURCE:
LiveScience.com

This is a good idea, and one I hope spreads.
Petroleum based plastics are one of the worst waste products we
produce.
Banning one of the biggest contributors to it is a move in the right direction.


Comments, Opinions?

I think it's a good idea. Unless they start cutting down hundreds of trees for more paperbags. But if they don't use plastic and just recycled paper I'm sure it will help out.


But now when they ask "Paper or Plastic?" You won't have much of a choice.

Originally posted by enjoies05
But now when they ask "Paper or Plastic?" You won't have much of a choice.

Well, if you go to a retailer that is using the biodegradable corn
byproduct based plastic bags, you would still have the option.

" Would you like paper or biodegradable corn byproduct based plastic? "

Originally posted by iori_komei

Originally posted by enjoies05
But now when they ask "Paper or Plastic?" You won't have much of a choice.

Well, if you go to a retailer that is using the biodegradable corn
byproduct based plastic bags, you would still have the option.

Communist..

I only use NON biodegradable plastic bags. And I also throw the bags out side to trap little birdies.. and im the !% who rolls the carts into peoples doors at the grocery store...


Iori -- I prefer plastic thank you.

I think that this is a good idea, but it also increases the amount of paper we use. Maybe we should start making paper out of hemp, instead of cutting down trees.

Well.. the thing about paper bags is that it is RECYCLABLE.

I did a debate on this issue (and I live in SF btw). I was PRO Plastic bag ban. It was awhile ago so I don't have remember all the nitty gritty facts but believe me, it is a step forward. The damages plastic bags do are pretty bad and the PROS seriously outweigh the CONS on this issue... and even though generally I despise the SF Supervisors (as do many other sane San Franciscans ), this is their one thought-out decision that seems to make relative sense.





[edit on 28-3-2007 by k4rupt]

This is great news.. I've been an advocate of the ban for a while now. Nice to know

I see this as good news also.

At my work we're trying somethin similar,
we're only putting out paper products, the
customers have to ask for plastic.

I know there's also biodegradable soy-based
plastics out there. It takes moves like this
though for alternatives to gain popularity.

Its a move in the right direction, more will
follow suit.

We could use cloth bags and allow customers to receive discounts on their purchase when they return the cloth bags to be washed and re-used. Or just purchase your own cloth bags and take them with you to the store.

Here in Portugal some supermarkets use reusable bags, stronger plastic bags, made with recyclable plastic, that can be used many times.

When the bag is getting old we only have to return it to the store and they give us a new bag.