Teri Jackson, who is the Superior Court Judge in San Francisco, earlier this week, gave the nod for passing the ordinance regarding the ban of plastic bags in grocery and other retail stores. The ordinance also states that a dime will be charged per paper bag and disposable plastic bag at the stores. Instead, shoppers are encourages to utilize wholesale reusable bags.
The ruling was passed as a result of the lawsuit that Save the Plastic Bag Coalition group filed. Opposition argued that San Francisco officials aren’t undertaking a thorough report on the impact of the ordinance, before it was passed. Once the ordinance got approved and passed by the Judge, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Ed Lee signed the copy of the official ordinance.
Judge’s decision applauded by attorneys and residents
Judge Jackson’s careful consideration of all the issues stated and rejecting the arguments that the plastic bag manufacturers’ states, has made the law sector of San Francisco quite proud. Officials believe that people of San Francisco also deserve similar benefits just as the other state jurisdictions enjoy because of effective policies that have been passed in their areas.
The ordinance passed also expands a 2007 law, which is the first of it kind in the entire country that banned the usage and provision of non-compostable plastic bags in pharmacies and large supermarkets. When this newly passed ordinance will go into effect from October 1st, all the retail stores will be targeted. Starting next summer, the San Francisco officials plan to extend the ordinance to restaurants as well.
Effort to encourage shoppers to use wholesale reusable bags
Since the city officials want to make people more eco-minded and environmentally responsible, they have also imposed a small fee on paper bags as well. By doing so, shoppers will start bringing their own reusable totes. Money generated from the fees gotten from these bags will be kept by the individual stores itself, instead of giving it to the city board.
If any of the stores don’t follow the ban and flout it, then they will be slapped with a $500 fine for every violation. However, even after the ordinance has been passed, the attorneys of Save the Plastic Bag Coalition refuse to give up and plan on appealing in the Appeals Court. People think this is a waste of time and energy as plastics are known to increase pollution levels and harm the environment.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/san-francisco-plastic-bag_n_1881889.html
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