New Study: Plastic Bag Ban Plays Crucial Role in Preventing Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The scientists at the Ocean Conservancy published a new analysis that says that the increase in statewide plastic grocery bag bans has led to a notable decline in plastic grocery bags found on beaches and waterways. The data is based on collections by its International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) volunteers.

ALSO READ:

Court Rules Against Athens' Plastic Bag Ban

Santa Barbara Supervisors Endorse State Bills to Revise Plastic Bag Ban

According to the Washington D.C., United States-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group, the number of bags collected per ICC volunteer recorded a two-fold surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. It should be noted that the period witnessed a surge in single-use plastic bag usage. Additionally, at those times, a number of regions had declared a temporary ban on plastic bags.

However, since 2020, at a time when statewide plastic bag bans across the U.S. doubled, there has been a significant 29% reduction in the number of plastic bags collected per ICC volunteer.

Making and using less plastic shopping bags in the first place is the greatest method to stop them from becoming plastic pollution, according to Dr. Anja Brandon, director of plastics policy at Ocean Conservancy. He emphasized that one of the most deadly types of plastic pollution to marine life is plastic bags.