San Francisco International Airport banning plastic bottle sales

The San Francisco International Airport, one of the largest airports in the country, announced it will ban the sale of single-use plastic water bottles later this month.

Starting Aug. 20, tenants, vendors and permittees will be prohibited from providing or selling “bottled water in containers that contain plastic or aseptic paper packaging, including in vending machines,” the airport said.

{mosads}“Reusable water bottles, recyclable aluminum, glass and certified compostable water bottles can instead be provided or sold,” it added.

The airport added that the ban will apply to purified water, mineral water, carbonated water and electrolyte-enhanced water but will exempt flavored water.

In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle published Friday, Doug Yakel, a spokesperson for the airport, said the facility is “the first airport that we’re aware of to implement this change.”

“We’re on the leading edge for the industry, and we want to push the boundaries of sustainability initiatives,” he continued.

“Our hope is that that migration will continue, where it’ll touch sodas and teas and juices and other flavored beverages to the point where, in the future, it’s realistic for us to expand this prohibition on plastic bottles,” Yakel added. “Will this be the last change? Hopefully not.”