San Francisco bans disposable bags in pharmacies

San Francisco supervisors recently passed the first ban in the nation on plastic bags. The bill applies to large grocers and all pharmacies in the city and bans the use of petroleum-based bags. Instead, consumers will be given the choice of paper bags, reusable canvas bags, or biodegradable bags. Unlike the petroleum-based bags found in most stores, biodegradable bags are made from potato or corn. Backers of the bill argued that the biodegradable bags are stronger and cost about the same as paper bags and hope other cities will follow suit. The bill was strenuously opposed by the California Grocers Association. While grocery stores will have six months to implement the new law, pharmacies will have a year to make the switch. The bill initially did not include pharmacies but was amended to include drugstores as well.

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