Dive Summary:
- Research by professors at the University of Pennsylvania and George Mason University revealed an upswing in E. coli infections in San Francisco, Calif. emergency rooms in the first three months after a plastic bag first went into effect in 2007
- E. coli can range from relatively harmless to fatal; the study reported a 46% increase in E. coli-related deaths.
- Although the study concluded that project health costs easily outweigh any budgetary savings triggered by the ban, Jennie Romer, Atlantic region director of the Clean Seas Coalition and founder of PlasticBagLaws.org, said that the report's claims are "completely ridiculous and unfounded."
- Romer noted that while the research was conducted in 2007 when the bag ban was first introduced, the bag ban did not take full effect until 2012, "so this data would not be relevant."
From the article:
"... 'Using standard estimates of the statistical value of life,' the study's authors point out dryly, 'we show that the health costs associated with the San Francisco ban swamp any budgetary savings from reduced litter.'
San Francisco was one of the world's first major cities to pass a ban on the use of non-compostable plastic bags. The measure was gradually phased into effect, with full enforcement in 2012. Retailers are allowed to sell sturdier, compostable, easier to recycle plastic bags, as well as their paper counterparts, for 10 cents each. ..."
