Did you know that the production of plastic bags requires petroleum and often natural gas, both of which are non-renewable resources? And that the toxic chemical ingredients needed to make the plastic produces pollution during the manufacturing process? Not to mention that in a landfill, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, and as litter, they breakdown into tiny bits, contaminating soil and water.
To help clean up the environment, several states and cities across the country have bans in place, prohibiting the use of plastic bags by retailers and other businesses. A description of some of this legislation is below...
San Jose, CA
Starting in January of this year, retailers in San Jose and unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County can no longer use single-use plastic bags and paper bags without recycled content, as a city and county ordinance to ban the bags takes effect. Under the new policy, passed by the San Jose City Council in December 2010 and by the Board of Supervisors in April, only restaurants, nonprofits and social organizations will be able to hand out the bags.
San Francisco, CA
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently unanimously passed an expansion of the city's historic restrictions on plastic shopping bags. While San Francisco has prohibited the use of plastic bags at large supermarkets and chain pharmacies since 2007, this new ban will apply to all retailers citywide.
Portland, OR
The Portland City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits plastic shopping bags at checkstands of major grocers and certain big-box stores. The new rules, designed to curb pollution, take effect Oct. 15, 2011. Fulfilling a pledge from last year, Mayor Sam Adams introduced the ban after the 2011 Legislature declined to enact Oregon-wide restrictions.
And read about even more efforts here: http://plasticbagbanreport.com/
Resources
Myth: Plastic bags are free. Retrieved from http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/myth-busting/plastic-bags-are-free
Portland adopts ban on plastic bags that takes effect oct. 15. Retrieved from http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/07/portland_adopts_ban_on_plastic.html
San francisco plastic bag ban expanded with unanimous vote by board of supervisors. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/07/san-francisco-plastic-bag_n_1261327.html
San jose plastic bag ban goes into effect in new year. Retrieved from http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/12/30/san-jose-plastic-bag-ban-goes-into-effect-in-new-year/
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