Los Angeles Times. (2023, August 24). California’s plastic bag ban is failing. here’s why. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-08-24/whats-the-deal-with-single-use-plastic-bag-bans
The article written by the LA Times describes why the recent plastic bag ban was not fully successful when it comes to plastic reduction. These bags are very challenging to recycle and often are thrown in regular recycling bins when they need to be removed and recycled at a different facility than a regular recycling center. In 2016, there was a ban on certain types of plastic bags and people were charged for the bags as well, however during the pandemic the plastic bag ban backslides and has become an issue again. While the ban has reduced some plastic bags on shorelines, CalRecycle reported in a 2021 report that there were still 11 pounds of plastic bags per person in California alone. Additionally, the bags that should be recycled often don’t end up at recycling centers. The article ends by having some ways to help this issue in California, like new initiatives that would increase the price of plastic bags and give money to recycling centers.
This article brings up a critical issue of plastic bags, particularly in California. Plastic bags are some of the biggest pollution creators and are often not reused as they should be. They are not as durable or reusable as other alternatives, like paper bags which are still not great for the environment. I think this issue is something that we could fix if there were more incentives for recycling and reusing these bags, like increasing the price for profit for recycling plans and incentives to bring your own bags. Additionally, using and buying these bags when we go to the grocery store creates a need for them, which just emits more greenhouse gases when they are created.
I was sorry to read this article, I have to say. Obviously it wasn’t a complete ban on plastic bags since we still see them around. Maybe it’s time to ratchet up the program to further reduce the plastic. As far as I know they aren’t really recyclable at all… and when people try to recycle them it jams up the machines in the recycling plants. 11 lbs per person? That means some people are doing way. more because I know many are doing hardly at all. I like your suggestions for improving this- more incentives/disincentives. It seems like we need to get this figured out if we want other places to follow suit.
The plastic issue hasn’t really gone away since you started following this topic I’m afraid. Hopefully we will see progress though. I think the public will is there. I also hope you found following this topic to be interesting for you. Thanks for all the well written abstracts and thoughtful commentaries.
Wow, 11 lbs of plastic seems so concerning! It makes me really worried about our future if we continue down this path of plastic waste being introduced into wildlife. I hope one day we can make a successful way to eliminate plastic waste.