San Francisco plastic bag ban becomes law

21 April 2007 00:26  [Source: ICIS news]

SAN FRANCISCO, California (ICIS news)--An ordinance ordering that local supermarkets and pharmacies phase out the use of non-degradable plastic bags was signed on Friday by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

The legislation sets deadlines of 31 October for supermarkets and 30 April 2008 for pharmacies.

Organisations representing the two retail sectors had strongly opposed the measure, which was approved in late March by the city Board of Supervisors.

The ordinance was the first of its kind in the nation, and it could reportedly cost millions of dollars in lost business or retooling expense to manufacturers.

Data from the city’s Department of the Environment and the Worldwatch Institute show that about 180m plastic shopping bags are used each year in San Francisco.

Retailers pay 2 to 3 cents per bag versus 5 to 10 cents for a degradable bag, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

By: Richard Knee
+1 713 525 2653

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