San Francisco approves plastic-bag ban

[FrankZappa]

I\'ve been using canvas at the grocery store for years. Now it\'s law on the west coast. :thumbsup:

San Francisco approves plastic-bag ban
Mayor expected to sign measure; city would be first in U.S. to adopt ban

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.

“Hopefully, other cities and states will follow suit,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who crafted the ban after trying to get a 15-cent per bag tax passed in 2005.

The 50 grocery stores that would be most affected by the law argued that the ban was not reasonable because plastic bags made of corn byproducts are a relatively new, expensive and untested product. Some said they might offer only paper bags at checkout.

“I think what grocers will do now that this has passed is, they will review all their options and decide what they think works best for them economically,” said David Heylen, a spokesman for the California Grocers Association.

Newsom supported the measure. The switch is scheduled to take effect in six months for grocery stores and in one year for pharmacies.

Craig Noble, a spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said it would be disappointing if grocers rejected the biodegradable plastic bag option, since more trees would have to be cut down if paper bag use increases.

The new breed of bags “offers consumers a way out of a false choice, a way out of the paper or plastic dilemma,” Noble said.


source

[FreeSpirit]

:sigh: While I think this is great for the environment, I prefer getting paper inside plastic bags when I go food shopping.  I always reuse the plastic bags until they rip.  According to this law, now I\'ll either have to use only paper or buy tons of canvas bags?  Seems a little unfair.

[davepeck]

i do paper in plastic as well.

it\'s all part of my grand scheme to destroy the universe.

[derickw]

my girlfriend gets both as well, one to store paper recyclables in before they get put out and the plastic to pick up dog poop from the backyard... i can\'t believe two dogs could poop that much. but that being said, i\'m happy they are doing this. i am a tree hugger at heart and do environmental management at work so good for the west coast. i kind of have a nickname for plastic bags in RI.... Rhode Island Tumble **** because i always see plastic bags floating across the street and stuck up in trees. i hope it makes it\'s way out east as well.

[FrankZappa]

but that being said, i\'m happy they are doing this. i am a tree hugger at heart and do environmental management at work so good for the west coast. i hope it makes it\'s way out east as well.

:that:

Don\'t get me wrong, I on occasion have to get paper bags when I forget my canvas, but I try to use them every time. I try to never use plastic if possible though. Many times I\'ll simply carry something rather than getting a bag, especially if it\'s just 1 item or small like when I got a sub the other day for dinner. I mean, it was already wrapped in paper and taped close.  I was going to go home and eat it. Do I really need a bag for this? If you are reusing the bags for dog poo or news paper recycling or the classic book cover for school, good. If you are just throwing them out, bad.

Unless you\'re dave peck. He is throwing them out but he has a clearly defined plan and reason behind it. ANyway, have you ever tried to carry 6 dozen eggs home from the store without a bag? not an easy task.

[davepeck]

heh.. i actually don\'t need a bag for my eggs... i get these at sam\'s club:



2 weeks, just me eating them, for the record...

[Todd]

2 weeks, just me eating them, for the record...

1 reason why you smell so foul!!!

[derickw]

that\'s kind of gross Dave... how can one small guy as yourself consume that many eggs on top of whatever else you eat

[davepeck]

that\'s kind of gross Dave... how can one small guy as yourself consume that many eggs on top of whatever else you eat

8 per day; hard-boiled; just the whites; one sitting.

[Todd]

You should start raising chickens

[FrankZappa]

what happens to all the yolks?
 
your dog must have the shinniest coat in the world.

[Todd]

[kindm's]

While I think the idea is decent.

What does it mean to the economy. They never bother to look at the impact this will have on the folks who make, print and distribute the bags themselves.

Not to mention if they have to use a more expensive bag it means higher costs at check out.

Stupid if you ask me. Just means more low income people out of work. Higher costs for food, and a minimal gain for the environment.

Why don\'t the ever do anything important. Perhaps they could have congress revisit the miles per gallon rules on cars and trucks, things that would really impact everyone.

[derickw]

i applaud any attempt to clean up the environment and every change from the norm is going to have consequences. Sure there are bigger fish to fry but there has to be a slow start otherwise everyone is going to go into shock if they can no long get what they want.

i was watching something on the new Ethanol vehicle craze and listening to Bush studdered as he tried to commend auto makers for trying to save gas saying it was more of a national security thing then a environmental thing..... he\'s more worried about his oil stock going down, freak\'n douchbag. but they were saying it was a good step but the energy that goes into making Ethanol is just as bad and that the demand would never be met if there was a huge request for that type of fuel.

[FrankZappa]

Well speaking of gas, all I know is that my shift is going to change at work and I will be riding my bike most days this spring/summer/fall, so when you are all complaining about $3.70 for gas I\'ll be filling up my car once every couple of weeks. :banjump: