SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — San Francisco International Airport is banning the sale of single-use plastic bottles and will require fliers to buy refillable bottles if they’re not already carrying their own, US media reported on Friday.
The new rule comes into effect on Aug 20, the San Francisco Chronicle
reported, and is part of a five-year plan to lower landfill waste, net carbon
emissions and net energy use to zero.
“We’re the first airport that we’re aware of to implement this change,”
airport spokesman Doug Yakel told the newspaper.
The ban will apply to all restaurants, cafes and vending machines, though
not to planes using the airport.
It exempts brands of flavored water.
Filtered water is provided for free at 100 “hydration stations,” where
flyers can top up glass or metal bottles.
The airport describes itself as an “industry leader” in sustainability,
installing solar panels and instructing all tenants to use fully compostable
food ware including straws and utensils.
The city of San Francisco banned the sale of plastic water bottles on city-
owned property back in 2014, but allowed delays and granted certain
exemptions.
Single-use items represent about 70 percent of the plastic waste littering
the marine environment.
Canada and the European Union have pledged to ban single-use plastics
starting in 2021. — NNN-AGENCIES
