Plastic Bag Ban Fails to Reduce Plastic Waste
Democratic state Sen. Catherine Blakespear has raised concerns over the effectiveness of California’s plastic bag ban. Blakespear highlights a state study revealing that the amount of plastic shopping bags discarded per person has increased from 8 pounds per year in 2004 to 11 pounds per year in 2021. She argues that the ban has not reduced overall plastic usage but, in fact, resulted in a substantial increase.
“We are literally choking our planet with plastic waste,” Blakespear warned on Thursday.
Statewide and City-Level Bans
California is one of twelve states that have implemented a statewide plastic bag ban, according to Environment America Research & Policy Center. Additionally, hundreds of cities across 28 states have their own plastic bag bans in place. However, California’s ban would only affect approximately half of the state’s population.
Implications of the Proposed Ban
Mark Murray, lead advocate for the environmental advocacy group Californians Against Waste, explains that the proposed legislation would extend the ban statewide. Nevertheless, it would mainly impact areas where major cities have not already implemented their own bans on thicker plastic bags. A state law passed in 2014 prohibits cities from enacting new restrictions on plastic bag use.
Governor Newsom’s Role
If the bill is passed by the Legislature, the final decision to sign it into law would rest with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has long been an advocate for environmental causes, having signed the nation’s first plastic bag ban as mayor of San Francisco in 2007.
