SF to Ban the Bottle

In March of this year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously decided to ban disposable plastic water bottles on city property. Gradually, the sale and distribution of plastic bottles 21oz or less will be phased out for the entire city of SF. This ban is set to begin elimiating all plastic bottles for SF public property this month, if Mayor Ed Lee signs the bill. 

San Francisco plans to ban plastic water bottles, starting in October 2014. Credit

SF has always been a national leader in banning environmentally harmful products and practices. SF is aiming for the goal of being a zero-waste city by 2020, and this ordinance puts them one step closer to their goal. The bay-area city already banned plastic shopping bags in 2007, and cities around the state--like Santa Barbara--have followed suit.

While this bottle-ban may be novel on the west coast, several towns, universities, and national parks across the country and on the east coast have already institued such bans. The town of Concord, Massachusetts set their ban in early 2013, banning bottle water in 34oz or less. Why SF opted to allow for the bigger bottles to stay is a mystery, unless they intend to allow those big bottles for a time until a new vote vetoes them as well.

 

However, some stipulations to stop the ordinance from banning all plastic bottles from SF forever. The petro-based bottles will still be sold at the San Francisco International Airport and atsome athletic events. Further, street vendors and the Gay Pride Parade will be able to sell it until 2018.

 

Despite these allowances, the American Beverage Association is angered by the news. They named the ordinance "a misguided attempt by city supervisors to decrease waste in a city of avid recyclers."