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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 25 July 2018

San Francisco to

consider outlawing

plastic straws, stirrers

By JANIE HAR The Washington, D.C.-
Associated Press based Plastics Industry As-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In sociation issued a state-
a bid to further cut down ment Monday saying a
on waste, eco-conscious better solution is to expand
San Francisco is expected recycling technology. "Re-
to join Seattle in outlawing gardless of what a straw is
plastic straws used to suck made of, we can all agree
down Mai Tais and slurp up that it should not end up as This July 17, 2018 photo shows wrapped plastic straws at a
bubble tea. litter," it said. bubble tea cafe in San Francisco.
The proposal, to be taken Seattle is believed to be Associated Press
up by the Board of Supervi- the first major U.S. city to
sors on Tuesday, also would shun plastic straws when wrappers to be free of to-go food is safe.
make the novel move to its ban went into effect fluorinated chemicals. "This potential ban is unnec-
ban vendors from using this month. Since then, the The chemicals are used to essary, contrary to sound
takeout containers made world's largest coffee shop ward off grease, but the science and will provide
with fluorinated chemicals. and hotel chains — Star- chemicals do not degrade, no further benefits to public
Washington's governor re- bucks and Marriott — an- said Jen Jackson, toxics re- health or the environment,"
cently signed legislation nounced they too would duction manager at the he said in a statement.
approving a possible ban move away from plastic San Francisco Department Gwyneth Borden, execu-
to go into effect in 2022, straws and stirrers. of Environment. tive director of the Golden
but San Francisco's Janu- San Francisco has frequent- "It doesn't compost," she Gate Restaurant Asso-
ary 2020 deadline would ly led the way on policies said, "so it will remain and ciation, said restaurateurs
be earlier. considered eco-friendly. continue to accumulate in have no desire to pass on
The legislation prohibits In 2007, it outlawed single- the environment." toxins through carryout
eateries from using plastic use plastic bags and in Jonathan Corley, spokes- containers. But the higher
anti-splashers, stirrers and 2016, expanded its prohibi- man for the American cost of compostable fluo-
other plastic items that en- tion on foam food carryout Chemistry Council, a trade rinated-free containers will
vironmentalists say are too containers to include retail association, said Monday drive businesses to return to
small to be recycled prop- sales of kiddie pool toys that the U.S. Food and recyclable plastic contain-
erly. and packing peanuts. Drug Administration has ers, she said.q
Retailers would no longer Tuesday's legislation calls deemed the chemicals
be able to sell the items for to-go containers and currently used to package
starting July 2019. In addi-
tion, food and drink ven-
dors would be allowed to
dispense cutlery, napkins,
condiments and lids only
on request or through self-
serve stations.
People with disabilities
have spoken out against
the plastic straw ban, say-
ing customers with mobility
issues rely on the tubes to
drink and paper or metal
straws aren't always ap-
propriate. But businesses
in politically progressive
San Francisco appear to
be largely in support, with
Supervisor Katy Tang an-
nouncing the legislation at
a popular bubble milk tea
shop in May.
"It's a movement not just
happening in San Francisco
but nationally and interna-
tionally," said Peter Gallot-
ta, spokesman for the city's
Department of Environ-
ment. "The larger elephant
in the room is the single-use
disposable culture we find
ourselves in, and straws are
the epitome of this unnec-
essary daily waste."