California's attempt to cut down on plastic bags has unintended consequences, spurring new legislative action

In the decade following California's celebrated first-in-the-nation single-use plastic bag ban, plastic bag waste jumped by nearly 50%. What went wrong?

Susanne Rust reports for The Los Angeles Times.

In short:

• California's ban on single-use plastic bags led to an increase in heavier, so-called "reusable" bags, causing a surge in plastic waste.
• The new legislation aims to close the loophole that allowed these thicker bags, with a focus on truly reducing plastic use.
• Other states have learned from California's experience, adopting more stringent measures to avoid similar pitfalls.

Key quote:

"Californians want less plastic, not more."

— Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)

Why this matters:

Revisiting California's ban on single-use plastic bags spotlights the complexities of crafting effective environmental legislation and the importance of adaptability in policy-making. Competing interests have made the U.S. a laggard in the broader effort to combat plastic pollution.