General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOn Earth Day, San Mateo County (California) bans most plastic carry-out bags
There are so many bags, and they are lightweight, easily carried by the wind to our natural areas, including the ocean, thanks to our almost never-ceasing strong winds. Reducing the bags, which these actions will do, will reduce pollution from them, though it won't eliminate it, reducing the supply of bags by a large amount will make a significant difference and is worthwhile.
12 San Mateo County Cities Enact Plastic Bag Bans On Earth Day
The move to recyclable or reusable bags is seen as an environmental win for San Mateo County, where an estimated 550 million plastic bags are handed out by retailers every year, Peterson said.
...
Many of the bags end up as litter, clogging creeks, storm drains and waterways that flow into the San Francisco Bay, he said.
Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa said public works agencies are typically stuck with the job of clearing drains of plastic bags, or picking them up at parks and public beaches.
Who has to clean up all these bags? We do, said Canepa, who introduced his citys bag ban in January.
So the taxpayer wins because the city is always stuck with cleaning them up, he said.
Daly City is among the dozen cities joining San Mateo County in implementing plastic bag bans Monday. The other cities are Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Bruno and South San Francisco, according to the county.
Four other citiesEast Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateohave similar bans in the works. Millbrae already has a plastic bag ban in place.
...
Customers who dont bring their own reusable bags will be charged at least a 10-cent fee for a paper or recyclable bag. The fee will rise to 25 cents in 2015.
Businesses that are exempt from the ban are non-profit retail businesses like Goodwill, and restaurants with take-out business, which will still be permitted to package to-go food in plastic bags, Peterson said.
More information on San Mateo Countys plastic bag ban can be found online at http://www.smchealth.org/bagban.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)It is most heartening.
K&R
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)and lots of small ones in between.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Europeans used to carry their groceries home in baskets. It's a great way to transport green produce.
Cloth bags or plastic ones that can be repeatedly washed and re-used are great and much sturdier. I have a couple of insulated bags that I use for frozen items or food that I want to keep cold.
In LA this rule limiting plastic bags in grocery stores was introduced, but somehow, I think there is a lawsuit about it. Naturally, the companies that manufacture the plastic bags don't like the law.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)the effect on SF Bay to our east and the Pacific Ocean to our west, means we must do all we can to protect these bodies of water from pollution. we are lucky enough to be surrounded by such incredible beauty and resources, it's the least we can do.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)And that gift is the ocean.
olddots
(10,237 posts)such lefties ----now we have the cloth ones with handles that don't break ------how did the world get this far ?????
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)I'm glad this is being done. I think people in SMC are generally becoming more aware of the health of our waterways. I live in B-game, and my crocheted plastic bags generate a lot of interest. People are ready for an alternative. Some local stores have given away store totes for signing up for their rewards cards, etc.
The only thing I wish they'd do is perhaps subsidize green small waste bags for people on limited incomes.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)and i think people have mostly been positive about it. the employees i've noticed have mostly tried to say good things and communicate the change in a friendly way.
the bags are a convenience but they come at a huge environmental cost, so for the good of all, and for those of us lucky enough to live in this county surrounded by 30 miles of SF Bay shoreline and 75 miles of Pacific Ocean shoreline, the sacrifice is to make this already amazing environment better and healthier --and that is not a bad thing because it benefits us, those that live here as well as the children who will inherit this place.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)This is kind of a tangent, it was funny working the last election. I had a lot of young people ask why we needed to vote for Harbor Commission positions and were surprised to realize that we are completely surrounded by water here. Sometimes people just don't think very deeply about what system they are living in!
Also book recommendation for you Creek: "Imperial San Francisco" by Grey Brechin. Lots of interesting info on water rights fights in the Peninsula and the effect mining in gold country had on things downshore. I just got it out of the library, I think you'd like it.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)xiamiam
(4,906 posts)I like it. .takes but a second to get used to carrying your own bag. I got one of those little bags which stuff inside itself and attaches like a keychain to my purse. We can still use large kitchen/yard trash bags for garbage and paying a dime for a paper bag is a bit irritating but worth it. Don't know why I thought everywhere in the country was already doing this. Soon, I bet, its working and not difficult at all
Cha
(295,929 posts)this Island for 2 years. Working out nice.. all the locals and everyone carrying their own bags now.
Tree-Hugger
(3,364 posts)Mayor Nutter tried to ban plastic bags, but was no match for the blowback from the petroleum industry. Philly has two rivers - the Delaware and the Schuylkill (I know I botched the spelling) and some wetlands. Litter is crazy in this town. A plastic bag ban would be so nice.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)and nobody from anywhere else can pronounce it anyway!
love Philly, btw.
Tree-Hugger
(3,364 posts)I kinda giggle now and then when I hear out of town folks try to pronounce it. I know, that's mean. Of course, I typically refer to 76 as the Sure Kill Distressway.
ananda
(28,783 posts)I like it.