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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?
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.
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Credit: The Humble Co. on Unsplash
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Single-use plastic ban comes into force in Wales
The Welsh Government said it will reduce the flow of plastic pollution into the environment.
BigStock Photo ID: 459640975 |
Copyright: New Africa |
The secret life of plastic
What happens to our trash once we’ve done our duty and tossed it into the right bin?
Some firms unaware of England's new single-use plastic ban
Plastic cutlery is banned in England from Sunday but plastic containers for takeaway meals are not.
Louis Vest/Flickr
Editorial: Single-use plastics manufacturing shouldn't be subsidized.
The possibility of toxic fumes and the certainty of more plastic pollution are among the reasons Lockport should not subsidize SRI CV, a plastics company, especially given New York's environmental agenda.
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