by Kira Weiner
Starting October 1st, San Francisco could be almost completely free of plastic water bottles. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently voted to ban the city from buying plastic water bottles and the distribution of plastic water bottles smaller than 21 ounces. The ordinance does not include sporting events such as city marathons and gives food trucks and nonprofits until 2018 to comply. Violators of the ban could face fines of up to $1,000.
"We all know with climate change, and the importance of combating climate change,” Board President and ordinance author David Chiu said at the hearing, according to the SF Gate. "That's why I ask you to support this ordinance to reduce and discourage single-use, single-serving plastic water bottles in San Francisco."
Legislators hope that the ban will promote sustainable living, much like San Francisco’s plastic bag ban that dramatically increased the number of consumers using reusable bags. According to the SF Examiner, Chiu also said that there will be more restrictions in the future.
“If we can do this on public property and folks understand that this is absolutely doable, then we can look at next steps,” he told the SF Examiner.
Currently, San Francisco diverts 80 percent of its waste away from landfill disposal. The City’s goal is to have no waste going into its landfill by 2020.
