A return to plastic in San Francisco
-
San Francisco has reversed its 13-year ban on plastic bags and will now prohibit the reusable bags city leaders once championed because of the coronavirus.
The liberal city announced the switch this week as part of its plan to curb the spread of coronavirus. Barring customers from bringing reusable bags, mugs and other household items into stores was adopted as a measure “to prevent unnecessary contact” among the public.
San Francisco is not the only place that has reversed its reusable bag policy, but it is certainly the most surprising. The city was at the forefront of eliminating single-use plastic bags in 2007.
Coffee shops in the states, including Starbucks, are refusing to fill up customers’ reusable mugs.
Other states have also moved to reduce the presence of reusable bags.
In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu issued an executive order on March 21 directing every store to only use new paper or plastic bags they provide, and to refuse to allow reusables.
