Prohibition of Plastic Bags Helps Reduce Pollution on Shorelines
by evaristo lara - huella zero
Plastic bags have a low recycling rate and, when they reach landfills, they are usually carried by the wind to the sea
As some states have stopped using plastic bags in their stores, so have the tons of polyethylene that, when discarded, ended up largely on the coasts. Based on the analysis of data collected by government authorities and civil organizations during coastal cleanups, Anna Papp, an environmental economist, and Kimberly Oremus, associate professor of marine sciences at the University of Delaware, prepared a study entitled “Plastic bag bans and fees reduce harmful bag litter on shorelines.” The results, published in the journal Science, were based on analyzing data from more than 45,000 coastal cleanups recorded through the Clean Swell app, which feeds the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Information and Data for Education Solutions database. 611 plastic carrier policies enacted between 2017 and 2023 were also examined, with the aim of assessing their impact.
Political success The researchers found that state and local regulations in the United States have led to a 25% to 47% decrease in the proportion of plastic bags collected during cleanups in small coastal areas, compared to places without such regulations. “This is not eliminating the problem, it is just making it grow more slowly. We continue to receive more plastic bags on the coasts,” Kimberly Oremus warned. Thin plastic bags, commonly used to pack all kinds of products, are among the main pollutants found on the coasts. The problem lies in the fact that these packages have a low recycling rate and, when they reach landfills, they are usually carried by the wind to the sea. Once in the ocean, contact with currents and salinity causes them to break down into harmful microplastics or marine species become trapped in them. That is why it is key that more state governments join the ban on plastic bags. “Overall, our findings show that plastic bag policies are broadly effective in limiting litter on shorelines,” Anna Papp said. Although some jurisdictions have chosen to establish taxes instead of prohibitions, the results have been similar. Plastic bag fees, implemented in cities such as Washington D.C. and Boulder, Colorado, have incentivized consumers to reuse their own bags and have significantly reduced the distribution of single-use plastics. In addition to the environmental impact, plastic bag bans have generated economic benefits by reducing urban cleaning costs and maintenance of storm drains clogged by waste. In coastal cities, where marine ecosystems are particularly threatened by plastic pollution, these measures have also contributed to protecting biodiversity and improving water quality.
The case of Alaska There is no state ban on single use plastic bags in Alaska. However, several communities within the state have established their own local rules in this regard. For example, since 2019, it has been prohibited to use single use plastic bags in retail stores in Anchorage, including Chugiak, Eagle River and Girdwood.
