SF May Ban Plastic Grocery Bags

WKMG TV NEWS ^ | 3-8-2007

[Cagey]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Paper or plastic won't mean the same for shoppers in San Francisco if some city supervisors get their way.

A proposal up for consideration next week would prohibit large grocers from using regular plastic bags. Supporters of the ban say the bags eat up fossil fuels, litter the streets and choke wildlife.

The measure would require grocery stores to offer only bags made of recyclable paper, plastic that can be turned into compost, or sturdy cloth or plastic that can be reused.

The proposed ban has the support of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. But it's opposed by the California Grocers Association as potentially doing more damage to the environment.

President Peter Larkin said confused consumers would wind up mixing biodegradable bags with regular plastic bags in recycling bins, thereby contaminating recycled plastic.

[ApplegateRanch]

So was I. LOL

We get both paper or plastic at the store. Depends on what we have need of at home.

The biggest use of paper bags around here, is using them instead of 'new' Kraft paper to wrap packages for mailing.

The plastic bags get the usual treatment as poo/litter bags; trash liners, car litter bags, and all the rest.

One I didn't see above is putting them on hangers in the utility room, and using them to hold empty cans & soda bottles. When filled, tie them shut, and store until the next run to recycle them.

We also have a thrift store in town that is happy to take them for reuse.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

You could go a bit upscale:

[California74]

I'm glad I don't live in San Francisco. I'd have a terrible time trying to pick up dog poop with paper bags, as opposed to the nifty plastic ones. :)

(Used to be we'd rake up the poop and toss it in the trash, but since the plastic bags trend with dog-walkers, I've found it's so much easier to just pick it up with hand in plastic bag.)

[spikeytx86]

I use canvas bags too. You get a $0.05 discount per tote at check out because it saves them money at my local grocer. They always give me a dirty look though like I am hiding merchandise in there or something LOL.

[Covenantor]

Now we're cookin'!

[jonrick46]

I'm in your camp! There are people who have also thought of good ways to make use of plastic bags. Through the magic of chemistry someone has developed a way to take all those plastic bags and make diesel fuel. Too bad the only creativity from San Francisco's power hungry politicians is just enough to hang themselves--from a plastic bag.

[discostu]

But your opinion is in conflict with the facts. And then you're stating it as fact.

[scan59]

That's why we need this. I'm the inventor.

I went to the site and have no idea what it was you invented.

[Eepsy]

My grocery store pays 6 cents for each canvas bag you use. They also sell cheap but sturdy canvas bags for a buck a piece. The number of people that reuse bags has considerably increased since they started this. Maybe SF should take note.

[Carry_Okie]

Free-market environmental management system having insured certification to a process standard

It's a market structure and business model, patentable under current law.

[cubreporter]

My opinion is my opinion. Paper bags are bidegradable. Those ARE facts.

[discostu]

Your opinion is your opinion, but when you say "Paper is still better. Always has always will be." you're making a difinitive declaration as if it is fact, but it isn't because the facts say plastic is better and your opinion is wrong. So now you've listed off one fact that kind of vaguely helps out paper. Except of course it takes a while to biodegrade, and there are chemicles used in landfills that help get rid of plastics, so again the biodegredation thing only matters for the bags that become litter. Then there's still the heavier bulkier problem, plus the paper recycling is a joke problem, and subsequently the slaughtering of trees problem. The facts are clear, plastic is better and your opinion isn't with the bytes it's written on.