A trend. A fad. Feel-good legislation. Call plastic bag bans whatever you want, just don’t call them effective environmental policy.
Activists in Missoula think otherwise. The group “Families for a Livable Climate Beyond Plastics” have submitted a petition to the Missoula elections office to put an initiative on the ballot this fall that would regulate single-use plastics.
Plastic bags would be banned, as would foam cups, containers and packing peanuts. Restaurants and vendors would also be banned from giving out plastic straws unless they are specifically requested.
If adopted, would they make an environmental difference? The research tells us no.
In fact, much of the research shows plastic bags can actually be one of the most environmentally friendly options.
There are numerous reasons for this.
First, plastic bags are reusable. Think about how many times you’ve reused a plastic bag to take a lunch to work, to clean up after your dog, or to fill a trash container in your bathroom. Without those bags available, consumers look for alternatives and end up buying more plastic bags.
The school of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia released a study last year.
The study found California communities with bag policies saw sales of 4-gallon trash bags increase by 55% to 75%, and sales of 8-gallon trash bags increase 87% to 110%. These results echo earlier studies that also showed increases in sales of smaller plastic trash bags.
Second, the plastic bag alternatives are not much better.
The United Kingdom’s Environment Agency released a report in 2011 that highlighted the carbon impact of paper, reusable plastic, and cotton bags is higher than single-use plastic bags. In fact, scientists said you’d need to reuse a cotton bag more than 130 times to have an impact on the environment. Danish researchers had similar findings.
Environmental policy expert Todd Myers wrote this for RealClearScience:
"One of the most commonly heard claims is that plastic bags, and other plastic, have created the “Pacific Garbage Patch.” Some claim it is twice the size of Texas. This is simply false. Last year, Oregon State University reported that the actual amount is less than one percent the size of Texas. Oceanography professor Angel White sent out a release last year saying, “There is no doubt that the amount of plastic in the world’s oceans is troubling, but this kind of exaggeration undermines the credibility of scientists.”
Third, there are sanitation concerns. Most people who carry around reusable, cloth bags do not necessarily take care to make sure the bag is clean. Some may keep the bag in their backseat or the trunk of their vehicle. Others might only wash the bag once a month.
The concern about sanitation was especially high during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a number of states that had adopted bans decided to hold off because of hygiene concerns.
So, while plastic bag bans may make policymakers feel good, the research shows they are a very ineffective way to protect the environment and can actually do more harm than good.