Single-use plastic packaging is so common in our everyday lives that a future without it might seem a long way off. But examples of what that future might look like are already here.
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.
One of the most widely shared images from the inauguration was of Sen. Bernie Sanders huddled in his chair, trying to stay warm in his beige parka and wool mittens. Soon we learned those mittens were lined with fleece made from recycled plastic. I’m all for finding more uses for discarded plastic. Reducing the amount of plastic we throw away is going to require a variety of approaches, including finding more ways to recycle plastic. However, while recycling is an important part of the solution, it isn’t the entire solution.
The world already has more plastic than it needs, wants or can handle. And the world is starting to push back.
Container deposit laws fund recycling programs at the point of purchase – a surprisingly powerful idea about to have its moment.
