AP: San Francisco board passes cell phone emissions law

June 24th, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment

San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance that will require cell phone retailers to disclose to customers the phones’ specific absorption rate, or SAR. Mayor Newsom has indicated he will sign the measure into law.

SAR measures the amount of radiation emitted by the phone that is absorbed by the body.

Renee Sharp, the California director of the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, said she hoped the law would dissuade consumers from buying relatively high radiation phones until their effect on the human body is fully understood.

Under the law, larger retailers would be required to place SAR notices starting February. The law would apply to other stores beginning in 2012.

READ THIS STORY AT NEWS.YAHOO.COM

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California plastic carryout bag ban movement gaining ground

June 16th, 2010 | Bulldog Blog | | One comment
Photo: Zainub / Flickr
Photo: Zainub / Flickr
Earlier this month, the California State Assembly passed a bill that attempts to scale back the enormous quantity of plastic carryout bags that are provided to customers every year. In an effort to reduce waste and encourage customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags, Assembly Bill 1998 prohibits supermarkets and pharmacies from providing single-use carryout bags effective January 1, 2012. It extends the ban to convenience stores and other outlets where groceries are sold a year and a half later. Stores may offer recyclable paper bags for a minimum fee of five cents. AB 1998 is now awaiting consideration in the state Senate.

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