San Francisco, known for its progressiveness, diversity and acceptance of a variety of political viewpoints, has recently taken a great stride toward world peace. Green peace, that is.
On Tuesday, the eccentric city became the first in the nation to ban non-recyclable plastic bags from use in supermarkets, drugstores and other large retailers. Now, their only options are to use reusable or biodegradable plastic bags.
As stated in an article in the Los Angeles Times, "the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance gives major supermarket chains with more than $2 million in annual sales six months to make the switch to biodegradable bags. Pharmacies and retailers with at least five locations have one year. Violators face fines of up to $500."
Naturally, in comparison to other environmental issues (global warming, anyone?), the plastic-bag problem may seem negligible. But each year, the disposal of non-compostable bags is responsible for killing marine life and clogging landfills.
While biodegradable bags are much sturdier and more environmentally friendly than current petroleum-based polyethurane plastic bags, they - of course - are more expensive. Typical plastic bags cost less than a penny to produce. Biodegradable bags cost between 4 and 8 cents, though advocates expect the price to decrease with increased demand, according to the Los Angeles Times.
However, the decision to switch to recyclable bags citywide is not in the hands of the city dwellers; it's up to the retailers and big corporations - like Fresh Grocer. They, after all, will be stuck with the bill, as well as the decision of how to pay it. They can either allocate a portion of their profits to the green plan or they can charge their customers for the higher-priced bags and risk losing customers in the process.
To date, it seems that Fresh Grocer is willing to do neither.
"When we first opened, we looked into mesh bags that are reusable, but the program failed because people didn't want to purchase them. We're basically waiting for a better option," said Ross Delromano, Fresh Grocer store manager.
But the store has been open since 1932, and no other option has been decided on.
A few major companies have decided to take steps toward amending the plastic-bag problem.
IKEA, for example, decided last week to extend its plastic-bag reduction program to the United States. This program involves charging customers five cents for the usual plastic bags while offering reusable plastic bags for only a slightly higher price. According to their press release, this plan has already decreased plastic bag usage by 97 percent in the UK. Hopefully, similar results will follow in the U.S.
But most large corporations have not quite shown the morale that IKEA and San Francisco have admirably displayed. I asked Chris Meeley, an employee of Fresh Grocer, if he feels non-recyclable bags are a significant concern for the company. He responded, "well, you're killing trees for paper bags. I completely agree with that. But then again, it's the same thing for paper. Are you printing on recyclable paper?"
No, I admitted. I'm not printing on recyclable paper. But if businesses in Philadelphia are waiting on college freshmen to make moves toward green peace, then let me be the first to say: I would like to see Philadelphia follow San Francisco's lead in outlawing non-recyclable plastic bags, and I would be willing to pay the extra five cents for a bag that will not kill innocent marine life.
Some countries around the world have already enacted similar bans, such as South Africa, Taiwan and Bangladesh. Some have imposed plastic-bag taxes. San Francisco cannot be the only city in America to act on this prevalent environmental issue.
Even educational institutions like Penn could contribute to this movement by substituting plastic bags in the dining halls and bookstores with biodegradable or reusable bags. Agreeing to this endeavor would encourage the schools' respective cities to take similar steps. For Penn, it would also restore our former reputation as a strong supporter of local conservation efforts.
While America is waiting for solutions to the broader and admittedly more detrimental environmental issues like global warming, it only makes sense to address those issues that can be easily resolved now. The city of Philadelphia would do well to enact a law similar to San Francisco's, and it could probably influence other large cities to consider doing the same later. We are, after all, the City of Brotherly Love.
Jamie France is a College freshman from Plantation, Fla. Her e-mail address is france@dailypennsylvanian.com. Le Petite Freshman appears on Fridays.
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