Plastic bag bans work
Well-designed single-use plastic bag bans have successfully reduced plastic bag use and associated litter and pollution. Use the Single-use Plastic Bag Ban Waste Reduction Calculator to estimate the impact where you live.
Well-designed single-use plastic bag bans have successfully reduced plastic bag use and associated litter and pollution. Use the Single-use Plastic Bag Ban Waste Reduction Calculator to estimate the impact where you live.
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A coastal city takes action to reduce the most common sources of disposable plastic waste.
Americans use and discard more than 390 million straws a day. Seattle's ban on plastic straws is reducing that number, and keeping plastic waste out of the environment.
Washington, D.C., is one of several cities and states that have banned some packaging made of polystyrene (otherwise known as Styrofoam) in recent years. The ban has led to less foam trash turning up in local waterways.
California has been a flagship state for bans of plastic bags, first at the local level, followed by the adoption of the nation's first statewide plastic bag ban in 2014. The bans have been effective at keeping plastic bags out of rivers and off of beaches, and have made recycling more efficient.
When dealing with tiny plastic trash, small pieces of legislation can add up to make a big difference.