The San Francisco City Council voted on the 24th to unanimously ban the use of plastic straws and fluorinated materials made of takeout packaging.

The ban is expected to pass its second reading into law next week and take effect on July 1, 2019. At that time, in addition to banning these plastic products in restaurants in San Francisco, if customers do not request the use of napkins, takeaway utensils and other takeaway items, restaurant operators shall not take the initiative to provide, unless self-service points are set up for customers to use on demand, in order to reduce unnecessary waste.

Councilwoman Katie Tang said that single-use plastic products are "huge" damage to the environment, "plastic is killing our Marine ecosystems, litter the streets, it's time we find an alternative to plastic."

Supporters of the ban were quoted by the Associated Press as saying that fluorinated plastics do not dissolve in water or oil, are difficult to degrade and damage the environment. The Silent Spring Institute, a research group, says fluorinated plastics have been linked to hormone disruption in humans, cancer and other health hazards. However, the American Chemistry Council, a US chemical industry association, said on Tuesday that the US Food and Drug Administration considers fluorinated products currently used in takeout food packaging "safe".

Countries and cities around the world are starting to deal with rising plastic pollution. The British government announced in April that it plans to ban plastic straws, stirrers and cotton swabs from next year. Plastic cutlery and straws have already been banned in Malibu, California, and in Seattle and Miami Beach. In the US, Starbucks plans to eliminate plastic straws and stirrers within two years. According to Xinhua

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