Sea lions back in SF

USA Today reports on the return of sea lions to San Francisco bay.

After an abrupt disappearance that left tourists disappointed and experts baffled, sea lions are slowly returning to San Francisco's Pier 39.

Last fall, after ballooning to a population of 1,700 animals layered two and three deep on the docks, the sea lions departed as if following orders, leaving behind only a few stragglers.

Marine experts believe the animals might have traveled 500 miles north, looking for fish and colder waters along the Oregon coast.

Read the full story: Famed sea lions returning to San Francisco's Pier 39

Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Food recycling mandatory now in SF

NPR reports on the new law in San Francisco that makes recycling food scraps mandatory.

It's the first program of its kind in the nation [that requires all businesses and residences to recycle organic waste], and so far, it's a mandate San Franciscans seem to relish. In fact, many residents and landlords began implementing the law before it took effect, using their city-provided food recycling bins to separate waste.

"It doesn't smell so bad," says Linda Corso, the the Cathedral Hill Plaza apartments manager. "Our trash room doesn't stink like it used to."

That's because none of the wet garbage, the food waste, goes down there anymore, Ms. Corso says. Instead, food scraps go into sealed compost bins that get picked up by the city. Corso says the program has significantly trimmed the building's garbage costs.

"We used to have two bins picked up every day," she says. "Now we're down to one bin every day. So we've cut that in half."

Read the full story: Food recycling law a hit in San Francisco

Photo from Recology

Plastic bag ban expands in San Francisco

Not only is San Francisco the first to outlaw plastic bags in large supermarkets but it is now widening that law to pharmacy chains too reports the local TV news station KNTV.

Ecotravel News was very disappointed when New York City was exploring a similar plastic bag ban but instead only got the edict for grocery chains to recycle bags; something that California supermarkets have had in place for over a decade.

Now that SF is successful in its attempt at being an environmental leader, hopefully other large cities can be inspired and also pass more stringent plastic bag laws.

Read the full story: SF plastic bag ban to expand