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Plastic Bag Regulations Making a Difference on US Shorelines
New research published in the journal Science offers promising news: state and local policies regulating plastic bags are significantly reducing the number of bags littering U.S. shorelines. The study, released Thursday, suggests these policies may be cutting plastic bag litter in half in some areas.
Researchers examined over 600 bag policies and data from more than 45,000 shoreline cleanups conducted between 2017 and 2023. Their goal was to determine the impact of bag bans and fees on the amount of discarded bags found near coasts, rivers, and lakes.
The findings, spearheaded by environmental economist Anna Papp and University of Delaware marine science and policy professor Kimberly Oremus, reveal a substantial decrease – between 25% and 47% – in plastic bag litter over the six-year period in areas with bag policies, compared to areas without such regulations.
Professor Oremus explained that access to a comprehensive database of shoreline cleanups allowed the team to analyze litter composition before and after policy implementation, providing valuable insights into their effectiveness. This study marks the first comprehensive review of how plastic bag policies affect shoreline litter using data from the Ocean Conservancy’s global cleanup initiatives.
While over 100 countries have implemented some form of plastic bag regulation since 2018, the U.S. lacks a federal policy. Instead, regulations vary by state, city, and town, ranging from complete bans, as seen in New York, to partial bans on thinner “single-use” bags, like in Washington.
The study notes that even with partial bans, thicker “reusable” bags are often treated as single-use by consumers. Some counties, like Arlington County, Virginia, have implemented fees per bag, while 17 states have preemption laws preventing any local regulation of plastic bags.
The study clearly demonstrates that areas with plastic bag regulations saw less plastic bag litter during shoreline cleanups. While these policies haven’t eliminated the problem entirely, they have proven effective in reducing shoreline debris. Interestingly, early findings suggest fees may be more effective than bans, particularly partial bans, but further research is needed to confirm this.