Serious Eats
Plastic Bag Ban in San Francisco
Large supermarkets and pharmacies will have to use cornstarch-based plastic bags or recyclable paper ones:
Under the legislation, which passed 10-1 in the first of two votes, large markets and pharmacies will have the option of using compostable bags made of corn starch or bags made of recyclable paper. San Francisco will join a number of countries, such as Ireland, that already have outlawed plastic bags or have levied a tax on them. Final passage of the legislation is expected at the [Board of Supervisors] next scheduled meeting, and the mayor is expected to sign it.
The pink plastic bags seen around Chinatown are safe for now.