http://cagreens.org/press/pr070327.shtml

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/27/environment.baggs.reut/index.html

News Advisory

THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

San Francisco becomes the first city in nation

to ban plastic bags; Green Party supervisor

leads fights to save planet, marine life

SAN FRANCISCO (March 27, 2007) – San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi –

one of 50 elected Green Party members in the state – pushed through an

ordinance late Tuesday that would make San Francisco the first city in the

nation to ban the use of all but the most environmentally-sound shopping bags.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 Tuesday to require the

city's grocery stores and chain pharmacies to use only recyclable paper or

compostable bags, despite stiff resistance from the California Grocers

Association and the plastic industry.

"I have been astounded by the worldwide attention the issue has received.

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

adding that he believes the decision is part of a "trend of making sure

that a forward-thinking economy is one that understands its relationship

with our environment."

The measure had been delayed after the grocery industry went to the

Legislature to intervene. Now, the law goes into effect for 54 grocery

stores within six months, and a year for large pharmacies with at least

five locations. It benefits consumers in many ways, says Mirkarimi.

The compostable "plastic" bags are stronger, they can be dumped directly

into a compost pile because they are made from starches like corn and

potatoes and they won't pollute the environment, kill marine life or gum up

recycling machines. The cost for compostable bags is about the same as

paper bags.

Plastic bags are a worldwide environmental disaster – and many countries

have already made the leap to rid themselves of the bags, of which as many

as one trillion are used worldwide every year, according to experts. Sea

life, from whales to turtles to sea birds, ingest the bags.

The plastic bags are pervasive. In South Africa, there are two Texas-size

"islands" of plastic bags floating at sea, and Bangladesh banned plastic

when it was discovered millions of the bags blocked drains and led to

massive flooding. In Ireland, a "bag fee" led to a 90 percent reduction in

the use of plastic in three years.

-30-