Every year, more and more plastic gets produced and a good chunk of it is ending up in the ocean, causing environmental harm. In a bold move over control of the pollution, San Francisco has become the first city in America to ban the sale of plastic water bottles.
Over the next four years, the ban will phase out the sales of plastic water bottles that hold less than 21 ounces of liquids.
The move is building a global movement to reduce the huge amount of waste from the billion-dollar plastic bottle industry which is taking a toll on the environment.
While the San Francisco ban is less strict than the full prohibitions passed in 14 national parks and a number of universities in Concord, Massachusetts, it is a step in the right direction. But people who violate the ban could face fines of up to $1,000. I would say that is more than incentive enough to purchase a reusable bottle.
The ban is “another step forward on our zero-waste goal,” said Joshua Arce, the chairman of the Commission on the Environment. “We had big public events for decades without plastic bottles and we’ll do fine without them again.”