Why San Francisco’s ban on plastic grocery bags is important
Mark down this day, Tuesday November 20, 2007 as one where yet again, the Bay Area leads the food world. Northern California has given us Alice Walters and Chez Panisse, Tiburon’s cutting edge ban on Trans Fats and now the nation’s first ban on plastic grocery bags.
It was almost three years ago that the city’s Board of Supervisors considered a 17 cent tax on each petroleum-based plastic grocery bag to force supermarkets and drug stores to use alternative materials that would have less of an impact on the environment and landfills. In San Francisco alone, last year there were about 180 million plastic shopping bags distributed – which, according to the San Francisco Department of the Environment and Worldwatch Institute took roughly 774,000 gallons of oil to produce.
In a deal with the California Grocers Association, the Board of Supervisors agreed to not impose the tax if large supermarkets would reduce the amount of bags given to shoppers in 2006 by 10 million bags, just a little over 5 percent of the total. Two years later the group said they had reduced the amount by 7.6 million, but fell short of giving the city the proof it had asked for.
So the ban takes effect today.
A lot has happened since the issue was first discussed, and with a renewed interest led by Al Gore and his Academy Award-winning documentary in our sustainability and global footprint San Francisco’s ban should make a significant impact.
While the opposition to the ban cite higher prices for consumers, that tack just isn’t going to work this time. I know of no shopper who actually finds the typical plastic bag useful or comfortable. We have lived with them when we have no choice. But choices are abundant. Reusable canvas totes, compostable bags made from corn starch, paper bags made from recycled paper are all better options. Tesco’s new Fresh & Easy stores actually offer shoppers canvas tote bags “for life” after the initial purchase.
By April of next year, drug chains will also have to comply with the ban; and there is little doubt that the smaller stores which are not covered by the ruling will follow suit as the new compostable bags become widely available.
It appears that 2008 will be the year that being green is in, hip and becomes mainstream (sorry Kermit!). It seems that the ground swell against plastic beverage bottles, plastic bags and plastic packaging in general will finally force a change for the good of our planet.
What’s your take?
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This is wonderful! Plastic bags are such a waste, I can't wait for everyone else to join in!
If We really save oil, save our planet and reduce short term and long tem costs and losses.....I am for the ban. Thx San Francisco!!!
I love it! It's something we can all afford to do to help lessen our footprints!!
I'm thrilled this is becoming a reality! I plan on promoting the use of canvas tote bags to my 12,000 subscribers!
Is this a great country or what. We can go to the store and come back with double wrapped cardboard stiffened widgets inside bubble plastic you have to use a pair of tin snips to cut through - stuffed into a recyclable bag. Oh and hey, while you're out, could you pick me up some tomatoes sitting on a little Styrofoam tray with Saran Wrap around them. Oh and don't forget a nice big roll of garbage bags because our municipality requires garbage to be disposed in plastic to the tune of about $2.50 a bag for removal. Seriously though, this could be a good small first step toward weening ourselves off disposable packaging. One more thing, ALDI has always charged for bags so you see all sorts of alternatives to grocery bags being used - bags brought from home and directly recycled, cloth bags, stock shipping boxes scarfed up from around the store, little hand baskets and - my personal favorite - pile the stuff up in the back seat of the car with no bags needed.
How uneducated you are and how willing to let the government substitute its wisdom for consumer choice. Its another stupid mindless, march in lock step, antifreemarket, bureaucratic boondoggle from the People's Republic of California. Get a brain.
The only good thing I have found for the plastic grocery bags, is to "recycle" them by using them for garbage bags in small garbage cans. You certainly can't carry any heavy groceries in them, (unless you want to pick everything up).
This is a great move. Should have started a long time ago.
Thanks for your thoughts and comments - its a huge first step - and although I would agree that there is a lot of overpackaging on products themselves that could even be more harmful - WE need to show these companies we want change. and topline - we need to vote at the checkout and DONT buy products that are so over packaged.
Any guesses on what cities or states are next? My guess is Chicago....
thanks for keeping the discussion going...Phil
I never liked plastic bags but we didn't have much choice. I hate it when you go thru the 10 items or less aisle and wind up with 10 plastic bags. My Mom has been using cloth bags that she made for her grocery shopping for years.