San Francisco bans plastic bags

Print E-mail Comments (22) Share this article Text Size
San Francisco bans plastic bags
In six months large supermarkets will not be allowed to offer plastic bags made from petroleum products
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — City leaders approved a ban on plastic grocery bags after weeks of lobbying on both sides from environmentalists and a supermarket trade group.

If Mayor Gavin Newsom signs the ban as expected, San Francisco would be the first U.S. city to adopt such a rule.

The law, passed by a 10-1 vote, requires large markets and drug stores to give customers only a choice among bags made of paper that can be recycled, plastic 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.
[link to www.theglobeandmail.com]