FREMONT — Plastic grocery bags probably won't be disappearing from city supermarket checkout lines anytime soon.

A majority of City Council members said Fremont shouldn't follow San Francisco's lead in banning the nonbiodegradable bags from supermarkets after the council received a report Tuesday that found alternatives to plastic bags also have environmental shortcomings.

"I didn't realize the numbers were so bad on paper bags," said Councilmember Bob Wieckowski, who previously had supported a plastic grocery bag ban.

Earlier this year, Wieckowski asked the city to study regulating (and possibly banning) plastic grocery bags as well as foam cups and containers.

Wieckowski still favors a ban on Styrofoam packages in city restaurants, but other council members said the city wasn't ready for an outright ban on either item.

"I think we need outreach to businesses and some type of voluntary goals before we do the ban," Councilmember Anu Natarajan said after Tuesday's council meeting. Councilman Steve Cho said he would oppose banning either item until he could be assured that it wouldn't increase costs for businesses or consumers.

The council, which didn't have time to address the report Tuesday, agreed to formally outline a policy for plastic bags and foam later this month.

Environmentalists have targeted foam items and plastic grocery bags for elimination because the materials don't decompose, are difficult to

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recycle and harm marine animals and wildlife when not properly disposed.

However, a city report issued Tuesday found that the available alternatives, including compostable bags and food containers, were not great environmental solutions.

It takes less material and greenhouse gas emissions to produce a plastic grocery bag than a paper bag with handles, the report found. However, paper bags, which cost a few cents more per bag to make than plastic bags, do decay much faster, are more frequently recycled and don't require any petroleum to produce.

As for foam items, switching to compostable cups and take-out containers may not keep the packaging from ending up at area landfills because the report found that Fremont does not collect compostable waste at apartments and condominium complexes — nearly one-third of city homes.

"I think we should concentrate on getting food waste diverted and then come back to (a ban) later,'' Mayor Bob Wasserman said Wednesday.

San Francisco and Oakland are the only two California cities so far to ban plastic grocery bags, although Oakland's law is being held up by a legal challenge from bag makers.

Fourteen cities and four counties in California have foam bans, according to the city report. Wieckowski said Fremont shouldn't hesitate to become No. 15.

"People want the government to set high goals for protecting the environment," he said.

Representatives of plastic bag and foam makers praised the city's report presented by Environmental Services Manager Kathy Cote.

The Chamber of Commerce, represented by Fremont school board member Nina Moore, asked the city to go ahead with a voluntary program for stores to eliminate materials rather than an outright ban.

Fremont reporter Matthew Artz can be reached at 510-353-7002 or martz@bayareanewsgroup.com. For more local news, visit www.ibabuzz.tricitybeat.com.