The Bay vs. the Bag: 1 Million Plastic Bags in SF Bay Every Year

“The plastics industry is putting profits over the health of San Francisco Bay. Plastic bag pollution is unnecessary, preventable and costly. Bags clog storm drains and recycling equipment, costing cities millions of dollars, and bag litter lowers property values and degrades recreational areas.” – David Lewis, Executive Director of Save The Bay

Save The Bay launched “The Bay vs. the Bag” campaign today to attempt to significantly reduce plastic bag pollution in SF Bay Area waterways. The huge amount of bags that end up in the water spoils the water quality and threatens wildlife. Save the Bay is working with Bay Area cities to require a 25 cent fee for each bag, paper or plastic, distributed by retailers. The campaign urges residents to “kick the bag habit” and switch to using canvas or other reusable bags.

“The bottom line is that plastic bag pollution is threatening the health of San Francisco Bay, the ocean and our whole environment. The best policy is to eliminate these toxic products through bans and fees – and by switching to reusable bags – before the destruction becomes completely irreversible.” – Lewis

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, Bay Area residents use 3.8 billion plastic bags per year and discard over one hundred plastic bags per second. It is estimated that about one million of these bags wind up in the Bay each year, polluting the water, smothering wetlands and entangling and killing animals.

For more information on the campaign, head over to The Bay vs. The Bag.

If you aren’t already bringing reusable bags to the store for your groceries or other errands, please consider getting some or making some to help with the out-of-control plastic bag pollution. It’s everywhere, not just in San Francisco.

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