Plastic bag bans are helping clean up US coastlines: Study

Key points from the Left

• One in three U.S. Residents are seeing less single-use plastic bags due to new policies, according to research published in Science on June 19.
• Researchers found that bans and fees reduced plastic bags in beach trash, especially those charging fees, compared to areas without policies.
• California's Senate Bill 270, passed in 2014, made it the first U.S. State to ban single-use plastic shopping bags in many retail settings.
• The study indicates that effective environmental legislation can significantly reduce plastic pollution and its harm to marine life, as noted by researchers Anna Papp and Kimberly Oremus.

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Key points from the Center

• A recent study released in June found that local and state regulations banning or charging fees for plastic bags led to a reduction in their presence in litter collected from U.S. Shorelines between 2016 and 2023.
• Researchers analyzed 45,067 volunteer cleanups and 182 policies, finding that complete bans and taxes on bags work better than partial bans, especially at the state level.
• The study also found plastic bag litter increased overall but was significantly lower by 25 to 47 percent in areas with policies, with strongest effects where initial litter was highest.
• Co-Author Anna Papp stated that policies targeting plastic bags help reduce the amount of plastic bag litter, even if they do not completely eliminate it, while Kimberly Oremus expressed surprise that the study found any significant effects.
• The results suggest plastic bag regulations help mitigate pollution but experts emphasize broader approaches focused on production, consumption, and waste are needed to address plastic pollution fully.

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Key points from the Right

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