Local City Considers Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags
What happened
A city council is considering a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags to reduce pollution. The potential ordinance would affect all retail and food service businesses within the city. A public forum is scheduled for next week to gather community feedback before a vote.
Why it matters
- Ordinances often include a mandatory fee for paper or reusable bags to encourage shoppers to bring their own; in Pittsburgh, the fee is 10 cents per paper bag, but is waived for customers using food assistance benefits. Similarly, California's statewide ban, which took effect in 2016, allows for a 10-cent charge for paper bags. - A study focusing on Los Angeles County found that stores within the ban area saw a nearly 6% average sales decline and a 10% reduction in employment over a one-year period. Conversely, stores just outside the ban area reported an average sales growth of 9%. - Some municipalities have reversed their bans; for instance, Albuquerque's city council voted to repeal its ordinance in March 2022, less than three years after it took effect. - Bans can lead to a significant reduction in plastic bag litter. In San Jose, California, a ban resulted in an 89% decrease in plastic bags found in storm drains and a 60% reduction in creeks and rivers. - The effectiveness of bans can be undermined if consumers switch to thicker, so-called "reusable" plastic bags but continue to treat them as single-use. Research following a New Jersey ban found this behavior led to an increase in polypropylene plastic consumption. - As of 2024, twelve U.S. states have implemented statewide bans on single-use plastic bags, including California, New York, and Washington. However, some states like Arizona and Florida have passed laws preventing local governments from enacting their own bans. - Globally, 32 countries have banned plastic bags, with 18 of those nations located in Africa. Kenya has one of the strictest laws, where producing, selling, or even using a plastic bag can result in a four-year jail sentence or a $38,000 fine. - Alternatives to single-use plastic bags, such as paper, cotton, or jute, have their own environmental impacts to consider. For example, a standard cotton bag needs to be reused at least 131 times to have a lower global warming potential than a plastic bag used once.
Key numbers
- - Ordinances often include a mandatory fee for paper or reusable bags to encourage shoppers to bring their own; in Pittsburgh, the fee is 10 cents per paper bag, but is waived for customers using food assistance benefits.
- Similarly, California's statewide ban, which took effect in 2016, allows for a 10-cent charge for paper bags.
- A study focusing on Los Angeles County found that stores within the ban area saw a nearly 6% average sales decline and a 10% reduction in employment over a one-year period.
- Conversely, stores just outside the ban area reported an average sales growth of 9%.
What happens next
- A public forum is scheduled for next week to gather community feedback before a vote.
Quick answers
What happened in Local City Considers Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags?
A city council is considering a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags to reduce pollution. The potential ordinance would affect all retail and food service businesses within the city. A public forum is scheduled for next week to gather community feedback before a vote.
Why does Local City Considers Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags matter?
Ordinances often include a mandatory fee for paper or reusable bags to encourage shoppers to bring their own; in Pittsburgh, the fee is 10 cents per paper bag, but is waived for customers using food assistance benefits. Similarly, California's statewide ban, which took effect in 2016, allows for a 10-cent charge for paper bags. A study focusing on Los Angeles County found that stores within the ban area saw a nearly 6% average sales decline and a 10% reduction in employment over a one-year period. Conversely, stores just outside the ban area reported an average sales growth of 9%. Some municipalities have reversed their bans; for instance, Albuquerque's city council voted to repeal its ordinance in March 2022, less than three years after it took effect. Bans can lead to a significant reduction in plastic bag litter. In San Jose, California, a ban resulted in an 89% decrease in plastic bags found in storm drains and a 60% reduction in creeks and rivers. The effectiveness of bans can be undermined if consumers switch to thicker, so-called "reusable" plastic bags but continue to treat them as single-use. Research following a New Jersey ban found this behavior led to an increase in polypropylene plastic consumption. As of 2024, twelve U.S. states have implemented statewide bans on single-use plastic bags, including California, New York, and Washington. However, some states like Arizona and Florida have passed laws preventing local governments from enacting their own bans. Globally, 32 countries have banned plastic bags, with 18 of those nations located in Africa. Kenya has one of the strictest laws, where producing, selling, or even using a plastic bag can result in a four-year jail sentence or a $38,000 fine. Alternatives to single-use plastic bags, such as paper, cotton, or jute, have their own environmental impacts to consider. For example, a standard cotton bag needs to be reused at least 131 times to have a lower global warming potential than a plastic bag used once.
