No more small plastic bottles at the airport: that is the decision taken by the management of San Francisco airport in the United States. The measure, which will take effect from 20 August 2019, currently applies only to small water bottles and has been introduced to reduce plastic use at the enormous facility that welcomes thousands of people every day. This is the first ban of its kind to be implemented by an international airport — a virtuous example of the fight against plastic, one of the leading causes of marine and ocean pollution. While a drastic reduction in plastic use in the future is to be hoped for, the California city can pride itself on having been one of the first to genuinely limit the use of this environmentally harmful material: indeed, the sale of plastic bottles in public spaces is already banned across the entire city.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ @flySFO

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On average about 9,000 water bottles are purchased at #SFO every single day and we want to do everything we can to reduce that impact. We are proud to say that SFO is the first major U.S. airport to prohibit the sale of water in plastic bottles. #ZeroWaste

♥ 58💬 6 13 ago 2019 · Apri su X →

Plastic straws already banned in the city

The decision comes after the ban on plastic straws at the airport, which followed a city ordinance that outlawed them for good, and applies to all shops and vending machines at the hub situated on the edge of San Francisco Bay. From 20 August, water will only be available for purchase in glass bottles, aluminium cans or other biodegradable containers. For the time being the rule does not cover other beverages, but it is likely that the airport management will in future ban all plastic products. The American hub has in fact set itself the target of achieving "Zero Waste" — a sharp reduction in waste sent to landfill — by 2021. For the same reason, more than one hundred public water fountains have been installed throughout the airport where passengers can quench their thirst and refill their reusable bottles and flasks.

The problem of waste generated by passengers

"Every airport guest generates an average of half a kilogram of rubbish. In an effort to reduce waste, we are restricting single-use food accessories such as napkins, coffee cups and chopsticks. In addition to plastic, we will be banning items that make unsubstantiated claims about their sustainability," San Francisco airport spokesperson Doug Yakel told the Guardian. "The ban, for now, applies only to water bottles because there are many alternatives available for this product, but we hope to extend the rule to other beverages as soon as possible." As reported by the Washington Post, the news did not go without negative reactions: frequent travellers in particular complained that the ban would create new inconveniences for passengers, who would, in their view, be forced to carry an additional item — such as a reusable flask — when travelling. An alleged problem that is easily overcome for the good of the planet.