The unintended consequences of plastic bag bans

Published on March 29, 2022

It’s like trying to stop a leaky faucet with a paper towel – the water just finds another way out! Plastic bag bans, while well-intentioned, may actually result in more plastic bags being bought. It seems counterintuitive, but when people can’t get their usual reusable bag at the store, they might end up reaching for another option – like buying thicker plastic bags or even paper bags instead. It’s a classic case of unintended consequences: an action taken to reduce waste ends up causing more waste. This analysis serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to carefully consider the potential side effects of their environmental policies. So next time you’re considering a plastic bag ban, think twice about how it might inadvertently lead to more plastic bag sales! To delve deeper into the research and explore potential solutions, check out the full article.

When cities or counties institute plastic bag bans or fees, the idea is to reduce the amount of plastic headed to the landfill. But a new analysis finds these policies, while created with good intentions, may cause more plastic bags to be purchased in the communities where they are in place.

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