San Francisco Expanded Bag Ban

In February 2012 the Board of Supervisors gave approval to expand the city’s plastic bag ban to all retail stores and restaurants and impose the 10-cent charge on all other bags handed out at checkout. The new rules will go into effect Oct. 1 2012 for retail businesses and 2013 for restaurants. The San Francisco Chapter supported the expansion of the existing ban on single-use plastic bags within the City of San Francisco throughout the process. The expanded ordinance will further reduce waste and encourage people to shop with reusable bags. Such an ordinance is needed to prevent marine debris, save money and reduce our dependence on finite natural resources.