Plastic bag policies lead to major decrease in U.S. shoreline litter
- Over 600 policies were reviewed to assess their impact on plastic bag litter along U.S. shorelines.
- The study found that regions with plastic bag regulations experienced a 25% to 47% reduction in shoreline litter.
- These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of bans and fees in curbing plastic pollution and protecting marine environments.
In the United States, research published in the journal Science detailed a comprehensive review of over 600 state and local policies aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags. Conducted by environmental economist Anna Papp and marine science and policy professor Kimberly Oremus at the University of Delaware, the study evaluated data from more than 45,000 shoreline cleanups carried out between 2017 and 2023. The researchers concluded that the implementation of bans and fees on plastic bags led to a significant decrease in the number of plastic bags found as litter along coastlines, lakes, and rivers, marking the first attempt to systematically assess these policies' effectiveness on marine litter. They found that in areas where policies were enacted, plastic bag litter declined by 25% to 47% compared to regions with no such regulations, thus showing a clear correlation between policy implementation and reduced litter across U.S. shorelines. The results highlighted the urgency of addressing plastic pollution, which poses serious risks to marine life and environmental health. While most states lack a federal policy on plastic bags, individual jurisdictions have taken various approaches, such as complete bans or partial regulations on plastic bag distribution. For example, California's Senate Bill 270, enacted in 2014, prohibited single-use plastic shopping bags in many retail contexts, representing a significant step in national efforts to curb plastic waste. Despite the progress made, challenges remain. Some jurisdictions, particularly those with statewide bans on local regulations, hamper the ability of local officials to enact effective measures to tackle the plastic bag issue. Furthermore, the study acknowledged that thicker plastic bags, which are often labeled as reusable under partial bans, can still be misused as single-use items by consumers, potentially undermining the efforts to reduce overall plastic bag litter. Oremus and Papp emphasized that these findings underscore the impact of effective environmental legislation in mitigating plastic pollution. Moreover, the study pointed out that fees imposed on plastic bags tend to be more effective than outright bans in limiting shoreline litter. However, further investigation is necessary to understand the underlying reasons behind these differences in effectiveness. The general trend shows that approximately one in three U.S. residents is experiencing reduced plastic bag usage due to these new plastic bag policies, indicating a growing public awareness of plastic pollution and a shift towards better environmental practices.