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SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- One million plastic bags end up in the fragile bay environment each year and Save the Bay boss David Lewis said that's choking wildlife and fragile ecosystems.
"Last year, 15,000 plastic bags were collected by volunteers on just this one day," Lewis said. "And that's a small fraction of the total shoreline in San Francisco Bay."
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports
San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi said he wants the city bag ban to expand throughout the Bay Area and beyond and that the plastic industry has stalled legislation.
"In red and blue states, they see the wisdom of making this work," Mirkirimi said.
Mirkirimi said he plans on introducing an ordinance to strengthen the city's ban to require that grocers pay a refund to customers who bring in their own canvas bags and to eventually include a ban on paper bags as well.
The East Bay shoreline from Richmond to Emeryville and Candlestick Point are the plastic bag hot spots.
The plastics industry is fighting bag bans, suggesting instead that we recycle and reuse plastic grocery bags.
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