A lot of attention has been focused lately on the need to clean up downtown city streets, which are laden with drug paraphernalia and human waste. Looking at a different sort of clean-up, San Francisco could ban single-use plastic straws and related plasticware in an attempt to clean up the city’s streets and waterways.
The Plastic and Litter Reduction Ordinance would prohibit the distribution and sale of plastic straws, stir sticks, toothpicks, and splash sticks; prohibit persistent toxic fluorinated chemicals from foodware products; require compostable foodware according to Biodegradable Products Institute standards; and mandate that any event on city property that includes more than 100 attendees must supply reusable cups to 10 percent of attendees, presumably whether they’re drinking anything or not.
“We need to step up and do something about our wasteful daily habits when there are other alternatives,” said San Francisco Supervisor Katy Tang, who introduced the legislation. If passed into law, the ordinance would take effect on July 1, 2019.
