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.
