A recent study published in Science reveals that banning or charging fees for plastic bags significantly reduces the amount of plastic bag litter found along U.S. shorelines.
Using data from over 45,000 shoreline cleanups between 2016 and 2023, researchers found that areas with plastic bag policies saw a 25-47% decrease in plastic bag litter compared to areas without such policies. The longer the policy had been in place, the greater the reduction.
Plastic bags, being lightweight and windborne, often end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans where they harm wildlife and break down into microplastics. The study, based on data from the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, highlights that complete bans and fees were more effective than partial bans.
Researchers also tracked other items like bottles and straws and found no similar decline, suggesting the reduction in bags is directly tied to policy. There were also signs that fewer animals were found entangled in plastic bags in regulated areas, though more study is needed.
As countries work toward a UN treaty on plastic pollution, the findings offer strong evidence that plastic bag policies are working. As one researcher put it, “It’s slowing the rate of pollution, even if it’s not eliminating it.”