SF supes vote to ban plastic bags in stores

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi hands out canvas shopping bags, Tuesday, March 27, 2007, in San Francisco. San Francisco's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is to consider passing an ordinance that would require large supermarkets and pharmacies in the city to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags with reusable or recyclable bags, a move that would make San Francisco the first city in the U.S. to introduce such a ban. Mirkarimi, who sponsored the original version of the ordinance, said the proposal has the support of most supervisors, the city's garbage disposal contractor, and even many smaller retailers, who won't have to comply with the ban. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi hands out canvas shopping bags, Tuesday, March 27, 2007, in San Francisco. San Francisco's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is to consider passing an ordinance that would ... more Photo: Ben Margot Photo: Ben Margot Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close SF supes vote to ban plastic bags in stores 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

2007-03-27 14:45:00 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 this afternoon to make the city the first in the nation to prohibit petroleum-based plastic checkout bags in large markets and pharmacies.

On the first of two votes needed for final passage, supervisors approved legislation sponsored by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi that would mandate the use of biodegradable plastic bags or recyclable paper bags. The legislation would take effect in about six months for some 50 large markets in San Francisco and would apply in about 12 months to large drugstore chains such as Walgreen's and Rite-Aid.

"Hopefully, other cities and states will follow suit," said Mirkarimi.

Mirkarimi introduced his legislation earlier this year after the collapse of an agreement between the California Grocers Association and the city. That agreement was supposed to reduce by 10 million the estimated 180 million plastic bags distributed to shoppers in 2006. The grocers association said it cut use of the bags by 7.6 million but the city said those figures were unreliable.

Aside from the petroleum required to manufacture them, plastic bags are blamed for gumming up recycling machines, taking up space in landfills and killing or sickening marine mammals.

The grocers association argues that it already has plastic bag recycling centers operating in many large markets and that new compostable bags could confuse recycling efforts.

Supervisor Ed Jew, who said he has heard from constituents wondering why supervisors have spent so much time on the issue of plastic bags, was the only member to vote against the legislation.