Tuesday, San Francisco became the first city in the United States to outlaw non-recyclable plastic bags from use in supermarkets, drugstores and other large retailers.
The Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance, written by Mirkarimi and co-sponsored by six other supervisors, gives major supermarket chains with more than $2 million in annual sales six months to make the switch to biodegradable bags. Pharmacies and retailers with at least five locations have one year. Violators face fines of up to $500.
By a 10-1 vote, the Board of Supervisors required the use of compostable or recyclable bags — a move officials predicted could soon be imitated by other cities. Each year, businesses here dispense an estimated 180 million plastic bags that ultimately kill marine life and clog landfills, said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.
At a news conference before the bill's passage, Mirkarimi handed out canvas shopping bags that read "SF Environment: Our Home. Our City. Our Planet." The new law calls for bags that are reusable or made of recyclable paper or plastic that can be composted.
Advocates say biodegradable bags are stronger than conventional petroleum-based polyurethane plastic bags. In his office before the news conference, Mirkarimi produced a biodegradable bag holding 55 pounds of rocks.
A typical plastic bag cost less than a penny to produce. Paper bags cost about 5 cents apiece. The newer biodegradable bags, made from materials such as potato starch, each cost 4 to 8 cents, but advocates say the price will drop with increased demand. Currently only 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled, city officials said.
So, is Al Gore behind this? Does his "stock" go up because of the step San Francisco has made? Will other cities follow suit? As seniors, will it become more expensive to shop? Will you take your own bags to the store to save on expenses? How about letting me know your thoughts on this....you can post them here on our blog!
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