In what promises to be an unyielding display of unbridled Christmas horror, officials at City Hall will gather on the front steps on Tuesday to witness the 25th annual chipping of Christmas trees in a giant wood chipper. Terror will know no bounds as tree after tree is systematically forced through a machine that will turn onetime holiday decor into bits of sawdust and woodchips. more ›

Back in March, as SFist first reported, thousands of red balloons were released into the air from Yerba Buena Gardens, a stunt that was part of game release launch for Home Front. Although the balloons were allegedly made from a 100% organic product and are 100% biodegradable, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board "has fined national marketing company TrashTalkFCM $7,000 for [the] promotional event that resulted in hundreds of red, latex balloons falling into San Francisco Bay." more ›

You know the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that's splashed on your TV screen during Earth Day? The one that's supposed to scare you into bringing your own bag to Whole Foods? That alleged mass of consumeristic doom and/or gloom that's sure to eat our children's children? Well, the entire thing it a hoax, or so claims the wildly biased Save the Plastic Bag Coalition. more ›

Aren't there enough wineries in Northern California? Do we really need another? Especially when it could mean the death of a redwood forest? As the LA Times reported in August, Codorniu’s Artesa Napa Winery and Premier Pacific Vineyards plan to build two new wineries in Annapolis will "clear-cut over 1,900 acres of these redwoods." In addition to killing off a forest in the process of replenishing itself (the area was hit hard by the logging industry), it would also be built on the burial grounds of the Kashia Pomo tribe (where they still live and worship) and possibly harm the Gualala River, "home to endangered salmon and other at-risk wildlife." more ›

In addition to having the filthiest streets in the nation, San Francisco has just been anointed the greenest city in the United States and Canada, according to a study by Siemens. The report assessed and compared "27 major U.S. and Canadian cities on environmental performance and policies across nine categories - CO2 emissions, energy, land use, buildings, transport, water, waste, air quality and environmental governance." more ›

The state Assembly voted against fishermen who rip off shark fins and toss the still-barely-living sea creatures back into the ocean. "AB376 bans the sale, trade or possession of shark fins, a delicacy that costs hundreds of dollars per pound and is used to create a soup popular among Asians," reports KTVU. "The Assembly approved the bill 60-8." Although the extinction of these sharks pose a threat to underwater ecosystems, some have decried the shark fin ban as an assault on Asian cultural cuisine. Namely, both Mayor Ed Lee and mayoral candidate Sen. Leland Yee champion the destruction of our endangered shark population for soup. more ›

In a continuing effort to reduce the city's carbon emissions -- while boosting the smugness of Prius owners, of course -- Mayor Ed Lee's office will announce the availability of free power for electric for cars in San Francisco and SFO. The no-cost charges will last until the end of 2013. Who's paying for this, you ask? Well, according to the Examiner: "The $300,000 bill for the new program is being footed by a combination of federal, state and local grants, including one from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District." Electric-car charging station locations will be as follows: more ›

FILM: Jason Schwartzman kills it as awkward prep school kid, Max Fischer, in Rushmore, one of Wes Anderson's finest flicks. Bill Murray is also a fave as Max's fathers' friend/mentor, Herman Blume, along with Olivia Williams as the object of both men's crushes. more ›

Oh snap. This morning at AT&T's 739 Folsom office, Phonebook Free SF delivered thousands of unwanted phonebooks to the company's doorstep. See, San Francisco Supervisors and environmental groups are trying to make San Francisco "the first city in the nation to stop unwanted phone book distribution." Even though legislation says that anyone who wants a phonebook can still get one, "corporate interests are mounting a fear campaign and spending big money to kill this legislation." more ›

Stubborn big-government naysayers, listen up: when Spare the Air says do not burn Duraflame logs, the mean do not burn Duraflame logs. Take, for example, Mike, a reader from San Carlos, who sent us the following letter about getting busted from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District after lighting a Duraflame on Christmas. more ›

Why were there so many red balloons floating around downtown San Francisco today? Well, someone thought it would be a great (albeit pollutive and thoughtless) way to hawk a new video game. We think @sanbrunamo sums it up best: "please don't pollute our bay and environment with ads attached to balloons. [link] [link]" more ›

Matier & Ross report on a frightening and malodorous problem caused by San Francisco's low-flow toilets, and it's costing the city millions of dollars. Behold: more ›

Yesterday, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu introduced a ban on unsolicited Yellow Pages in San Francisco that would force phone companies to get consumers' permission before dumping the directories on their doorsteps. If you recall, Senator Leland Yee was unsuccessful at passing a similar bill before the state Senate last summer. more ›

Get it? On hold? Anyway, a plan to ban plastic bags in the city of Berkeley faces serious delays after the Coalition to Save the Plastic Bag raised a stink. "A ban on plastic bags will not be approved anytime this year, city officials said this week," reports The Daily Cal. "What originally appeared to be a simple way for the city to become more green has become increasingly complicated over the last five years, as some environmentalists question the benefits of using paper over plastic, and opponents of the ban look to stall progress through a number of lawsuits." more ›

City officials met on Monday in an effort to combat those pervasive delivery menus and nail salon fliers abundantly placed on our front doors that more often than not get blown in the wind from one house to the next and into the gutter. more ›

MUSIC: Get a taste of Seattle hip-hop tonight with the gritty yet smooth Champagne Champagne, along with Seattle's Mad Rad, and the Bay Area's C U Next Weekend and Moe Greene. more ›

Not that we compare ourselves to San Jose that often, but our neighbor to the south has just become the largest city in the country to ban plastic grocery bags. We've been plastic-free at major grocery chains in the city for awhile now, but as the Weekly points out San Jose's 10-cent fee for paper makes more sense than our own legislation that allows us to double-bag with reckless abandon. more ›

Due to the dry and glacial weather brought to you this winter season by La Niña, a Spare the Air Day has been called for today, Wednesday, Dec. 1. This means you're barred from lighting wood fires in your fireplaces, "using fire logs, chimineas or outdoor fire pits," and lighting your toes on fire with a Bic (which sounds so good right now since our feet are freezing.) [SFGate] more ›

You know that not-so crazy plastic bag ban spearheaded by San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi? Well, openly Republican (heh) Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger now also supports the eco-intelligent ban. So, you know, kudos to you, Mirkarimi. more ›

Opponents of the proposed high speed rail, which would extend from the Bay Area to Los Angeles have brandished their latest weapon: a tree. It seems that Stanford’s iconic Redwood, “El Palo Alto,” is directly along the route of the system. more ›

Despite his perma-slick hair, Mayor Newsom isn't exactly making friends in petroleum industry on his run for Lieutenant Governor by speaking out against Proposition 23 which will be put in front of voters on this November's statewide ballot. Also known as the California Jobs Initiative, Prop 23 would put the greenhouse emissions regulations signed in to law by Gov. Schwarzenegger back in 2006 on hold until California's unemployment rate has been under 5.5% for a full year. more ›

From the District 5 Newsletter comes a nice pat on the back for the smiley supe, seen here on a recent trip to Uruguay. In addition to being really excited about the America's Cup and possessing a general distaste for plastic bags, Mirks (as we like to call him around the neighborhood) is also a California Coastal Commissioner... more ›

First, Target came under fire for making an ill-advised contribution to an anti-gay politician. Now, according to SF Appeal, the retailer has been getting rid of hazardous waste in the Bay Area. SF Appeal reports that "a civil lawsuit was filed alleging that 240 Target Stores in California have been illegally disposing of hazardous consumer products that were returned or damaged in order to avoid expensive disposal fees." more ›

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Day today because it's going to be hot. Very hot. Hot for San Francisco, anyway. AP reports, "On Monday the Bay Area is expected to be mostly sunny with Coastal highs in the 70s to lower 80s and inland temperatures in the lower to mid 90s." more ›

You'll likely recognize this species of tree, with the pretty, fuzzy red flowers, of which there are apparently almost 5,000 across the city. It's called a New Zealand Christmas tree, or Metrosideros excelsus, and despite being widely planted in the 1980s and endorsed by the City, it's now been recognized as a mistake and a bit of a nuisance species. This is because its roots -- which can grow to 9 inches in diameter -- can destroy infrastructure like sewer pipes and sidewalks once the tree reaches maturity, which these trees are doing by the thousands right about now here in S.F. more ›

In front of City Hall at a "green vehicle showcase," Mayor Gavin Newsom yesterday announced a partnership between San Francisco and Toyota to advertise their Prius plug-in hybrids. And, as with anything carrying the Green brand, Newsom gets exceptionally excited. And when Newsom gets exceptionally excited, his hands turn into politically-charged fists of fury. More so than usual. Look at him go! He looks like a older Eva Peron. more ›

Put that firewood away (although there is no wood-burning ban in place), Monday is the first official Spare-The-Air Day of the season. Now that the warmer weather is upon us -- highs on the coast will be in the 70s/80s and inland in the upper 80s to near 100, we can expect some unhealthy smog in our midst. more ›

San Francisco launched a green product site, SFApproved.org, which recommends eco-holy cosmetics, hand sanitizers, computers, office supplies, batteries and other items. According to AP, "The recommendations are based on a review of the products' ingredients, recycled content and energy efficiency among other factors." Cool, right? The food section, however, recommends you to "AVOID butter, cream sauces, fried foods, chips, fries." So: grain of salt, folks. more ›

After San Francisco banned plastic bags in supermarkets and retail chain stores, it now may "expand that ban to all retailers, including hardware stores, bookshops, clothing boutiques and department stores." Which is fine with us. Carrying around a square paper bag with twine handles is much fancier. [SFGate] more ›