Lawmakers have been trying to do everything they can to reduce the effects of pollution on the planet, which included a ban on single-use plastic bags. However, this hasn’t had the desired effect California lawmakers thought it would.
As Californians have been using reusable plastic bags as single-use ones, California lawmakers have now decided that there should also be a ban on reusable plastic bags and have given stores alternatives to offer customers instead.
Recycling Plastic Doesn’t Work
For decades, people across the U.S. have been told that recycling plastics is better for the environment than putting them in the trash or — even worse — leaving them out on the streets.
A report that looked into recycling plastics discovered that recycling this material doesn’t actually work. It also discovered that the plastics industry knew this all along and has been feeding lies to the public.
The Plastic Bag Ban Had a Loophole
When the first plastic bag ban was implemented, its intention was to ban all plastic bags. However, stores found a loophole in this new law, so they began giving their customers reusable plastic bags instead.
This has caused many issues as customers haven’t seemed to understand that reusable plastic bags aren’t single-use ones and can be used more than once. As a result, California lawmakers have been trying to close this loophole.
The main purpose of the original plastic bag ban was to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags. However, a loophole within the ban enabled stores to use other types of plastic bags.
This included plastic bags with a thicker film coating that could be used more than 125 times and could carry up to 22 pounds while traveling a distance of 175 feet.
California’s Plastic Bag Waste Has Increased
Lawmakers had hoped that since the initial plastic bag ban in 2014, this would help eliminate a large proportion of plastic bag waste. As far as they were concerned, as long as the reusable plastic bags met certain recyclability standards, they were allowed.
However, this hasn’t happened. Since the first ban came into effect, California’s plastic waste problem has increased. It went from 157,385 tons of plastic bags in 2014 to 231,072 by 2022 — a 47% increase.
What the Plastic Bag Legislation Says
Two bills, SB 1053 and AB 2236, are being introduced into legislation. They aim to strengthen the current laws regarding plastic bags and close any loopholes in previous legislation.
It stops stores from offering customers plastic film bags. These were allowed in the initial ban; however, it has since been discovered that they are difficult to recycle, hence the new ban.
Other Reusable Bags Are Allowed
While reusable plastic bags have now been banned, stores are still allowed to offer customers other types of reusable bags instead.
These include bags made from cloth, woven textiles or other washable materials that can carry at least 22 pounds and be used at least 300 times. Paper bags can also be used, as long as they contain at least 50% recycled paper and are sold for 10 cents per bag.
The Plastic Bag Ban Has Passed through the Senate
The proposed plastic bag ban has passed through the Senate. SB 1053 passed with a 30-7 vote and AB 2236 passed through the Assembly with a 51-7 vote. Both votes were in favor of the ban.
However, there is still a little way to go before these two new bills become law. Both bills must be approved by the other legislative house and then signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Plastics Are in the Clouds
Recent research has discovered that the plastic pollution problem worldwide has become so bad that there are now pieces of plastic in the clouds. These clouds were discovered floating across Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in Japan.
While this may initially sound like a problem just for Japan, it isn’t. Plastic in the clouds could cause catastrophic problems for the rest of the world in terms of the climate, plants and water.
Why Plastic Needs to Be Banned
There are several reasons why plastic needs to be banned, as the harm it poses to the environment isn’t just from being left on the side of the road where wildlife could get caught up in them.
Most plastics are made of fossil fuels, so their production releases toxins into the air and water. Plastic has even been found inside humans.
The Fight Against Plastics and Big Oil
With plastics and big oil companies linked, plastics have now been included in California’s efforts to create a more sustainable future.
It is believed that by 2050, plastic pollution will have exceeded 20% of global oil production. The point of these two new bills is to try and eliminate plastic pollution and to prevent the oil industry from destroying the planet.
The Plastic Bag Ban Won’t Happen Until 2026
While the plastic bag ban might be a welcome sign to many, should it go through the process of being put into law, it won’t actually come into effect until 2026.
The current date it is set to take place is January 1, 2026. This will also mark a significant move in California’s environmental efforts and show the state’s continued commitment to tackling plastic pollution and becoming more sustainable.
