San Francisco Bans Plastic Grocery Bags

Plastic bags are history in San Francisco's large grocery and drug stores, after the city's board of supervisors adopted the country's first ban on petroleum-based bags yesterday. The ubiquitous bags don't biodegrade, clog recycling machines, clutter landfills, catch in trees and can injure or poison marine life.

The new law mandates that supermarkets switch to biodegradable or paper bags in six months, and drug stores in a year. Grocers warned that the law would lead to higher prices for shoppers. (More California stories.)