S.F. Gets Second Chance to Cut Down on Plastic Bags

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment unanimously approved it. The shopping bag fee—modeled after legislation in other countries that successfully reduced bag consumption and promoted reuse—would have been the first of its kind in the United States. But the plastic bag industry killed it, with Mayor Newsom’s help. Now San Francisco has another chance to lead again.

In 2005, the plastics bag lobby spent $700,000 for a website and lobbying efforts in San Francisco to fight the measure. That November, Mayor Newsom struck a deal with the grocery stores and the Plastic Counsel – where they
agreed to voluntarily curb the use of plastic bags and increase recycling rates for a trial period of one year.

Then in 2006 the industry put together state legislation that preempts local governments from contemplating bag fees like the one considered in San Francisco. Sold as an effort to increase plastic bag recycling across California, it was like a Trojan horse that tied the hands of local government from pursuing any actions imposing levies, fees, or restrictions on plastic shopping bags. In essence, it restricts California from reducing waste and pollution, while protecting profits of the bag manufacturers.

The plastic bag manufacturers provide backing to powerful business lobbies. For example, the Progressive Bag Alliance (PBA) is composed of the five largest bag producers in California. Their voluntary promotion of plastic bag recycling shows that manufacturers are willing to reduce their own sales in order to preserve their market. According to Laurie Hansen of PBA, “they'd rather have fewer bags used and still be able to sell them.” PBA worked hard behind the scenes in 2005 to ensure a bag fee was not imposed in San Francisco, fearing the idea would spread to other California cities.

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