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Posted Mar. 29, 2007, 12:12 a.m. PT
San Francisco Bans Evil Plastic Bags!
By Ann Magnuson
"San Francisco's Board of Supervisors Tuesday afternoon passed an ordinance requiring large supermarkets and pharmacies in the city to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags with reusable or recyclable bags."
It's about time someone passed some legislation against this insidious pox upon our planet. I have had a pet peeve about plastic bags for years. It seems that everytime I go hiking in the "wilderness" I am greeted by a Vons or Sav-On bag wafting on the breeze (or, more often, hanging in the trees). Everytime we drive to Joshua Tree on the 10 freeway I see thousands of the damn things impaled on the razor wire that surrounds some trailer park near Colton. Yes, there is something poetic about the sight of so many of them flapping in the wind (I see Art Installation!) but the American Beauty schtick wears thin.
These things are a blight and MUST be stopped! The astronauts on the shuttle even saw one of these errant bags floating around in space! And they are deadly to marine life! Kudos to San Francisco who have once again proven themselves to be the most progressive city in the country! I say: Gavin Newsom for President!!!
More on the ban from NBC11.com:
"The legislation, which was passed 10-1, makes San Francisco the first city in the U.S. to introduce such a ban, said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who sponsored the original version of the ordinance.
'Instead of waiting for the federal government to do something about this country's oil dependence, environmental degradation or contribution to global warming, local governments can step up and do their part. The plastic bag ban is one small part of that,' Mirkarimi said."
According to The Globe and Mail:
"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."
Comments
Yes that is pretty cool and its about time...these things are like a bad sinus infection one cannot shake ..... I cant tell you how many bags I have in my house or just accumulate from daily grocery shopping....I usually role them up to send off for a future recycling drop at Gelsons ......waste really bothers me....in general...every time I go to Pollo Loco or buy even some small item like crickets for my lizard i am given a plastic bag that will meet the garbage in 5 minutEs...I have refused to accept them now.And usually when I do I get this strange look from the cashier as if I just put a Halloween mask on ...the concept is dumbfounding to them it seems......its just one of those little mind prisons people can awake from ....NO I WOULD NOT LIKE A BAG ...for the item I will be eating in 5 minuteS;its really ridiculous when you think about it...now imagine if everyone were to awake from this forced bag syndrome.....
Posted at 1:51 p.m. PT on Mar 29, 2007 by randy focazio
I recently replaced my grocery bags with Nylon Chico Bags from Reusablebags.com (no, I don't work for them!). Besides environmental resons, it's now SO much easier to carry stuff home since they never break.
Also, I used to reuse the plastic bags to clean up after my dog, but now I just collect the ones that litter my neighborhood.
Posted at 6:34 a.m. PT on Mar 30, 2007 by Huge Bongwater Fan
In San Francisco it is also customary for a clerk to ask the customer if they need a bag. Since moving to New York I've been surprised by how many shop workers will put a pack of gum in a huge bag before you've even paid for your purchase. I find myself having to take stuff out of the bag and leaving the bag on the counter.
Posted at 8:11 a.m. PT on Mar 30, 2007 by L
( light bulb on top of head )....for all aspiring filmmakers ....and art makers ...use your bags to imitate water...just like a Fellini film... or create a plastic bag tree and have the Whitney showcase it ......something like the evolution of garbage into a organic beinG.......or how plastic tricked humanity into creating it so it could dominate the world .....
Posted at 2:47 p.m. PT on Mar 30, 2007 by randy focazio
Oh...so let's go back to killing trees for the paper bags. It's a wicked cycle.
I reuse my plastic bags/pets, bathroom trashcans etc.
And another biggie -PLEASE cut up your 6pack bottle/can wrappers. We've rescued quite a few animals tangled up in these things.
Posted at 9:46 p.m. PT on Jun 29, 2007 by Tonya
Yeah for San Francisco, where I now live! However, the alternatives are not any better. Has no one thought of the amount of chemicals used to recycle paper (which they are suggesting more stores will use because it will now be the cheaper alternative). While I've always answered plastic to that infamous question (for several reasons, less chemicals to produce...yeah I know they don't degrade, I live in an urban environment and I eat less organic red meat-if you don't get it, move on), I will always carry a mesh bag to avoid the recycled paper bag!
Posted at 8:44 p.m. PT on Jul 31, 2007 by Anonymous
I'm flatted you used my video, ta very much :-D
Posted at 2:30 a.m. PT on May 16, 2008 by Dude from the video
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