America bans single-use plastic

In 2018, the United States decided to pass a law banning single-use plastic, this includes plastic straws and thin plastic grocery bags (.05mm or thinner). This started following the ban that was implemented in Montreal, Canada that occurred this same year. There had already been some movement in this direction when California voted to ban plastic bags in 2016 and Hawaii outlawed single use disposable plastic bags. Christine Harada, the chief sustainability officer in the United States pushes for change regarding the amount of plastic that is disposed of each year in the US. Some states have implemented small taxes on plastic bags, but it finally became a nationwide agreement to ban these bags and other unnecessary single-use plastic products after many protests across the nation, specifically across the west coast.

As a result of this ban, we have seen an increase in the number of reusable bags, cups and straws sold, along with the amount of paper bags and straws being used in a variety of businesses. Overall awareness about the amount of waste individuals create causes an increase in recycling nationwide. The amount of paper products being used has started to increase, causing the rate of deforestation to also increase. Majority of people are in favor and accepting of this ban but there are still many people who complain about having to buy reusable products.

Sources used:

https://spectator.us/why-wont-america-join-the-war-on-plastic-bags/

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/countries-that-have-banned-plastic/

Timeline:

Jan. 15, 2018: US Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Christine Harada presents a plan to ban thin plastic bags, straws, and disposable utensils.

June 5, 2018: Montreal, Canada puts a ban on plastic bags thinner than .05mm

June 17, 2018: Protests throughout the west coast are taking place to reduce plastic waste in US

Aug. 15, 2018: Representatives from California and Hawaii introduce the bill to ban the following single-use plastic products, plastic disposable straws and thin plastic bags less than .05mm thick

Sept. 5, 2018: The bill is examined and approved by the committee members

Sept. 12, 2018: The bill is reported to the House floor

Sept. 17, 2018: A vote is taken on the bill and it passes; it is then sent out the Senate

Oct. 9, 2018: The bill passes in the US Senate and is sent to the President, Donald Trump

Oct. 12, 2018: The US President signs and passes the bill, allowing for businesses to have a 6-month grace period to make changes and get rid of all thin plastic bags and disposable plastic straws

Nov. 2018: Many grocery stores and businesses start offering paper bags to customers who don’t carry reusable

Feb. 2018: Start to see increase in deforestation rates due to the increase in paper product use

May 2, 2019: Walmart fined $6,000 for offering plastic bags thicker than .05mm in some locations

Aug. 20, 2019: More alternatives to plastic products are being used including plastics derived from sugarcane, which decompose at a much faster rate than ordinary plastic

October 2019: Plastic bag usage reduced in US from original estimate of 102.1 billion bags annually

Sources used:

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/allison-hanes-montreal-banned-plastic-bags-but-we-can-do-better

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/earthrise/2018/06/france-plastic-revolution-180614100259870.html

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/plastic-recycling-facts-and-figures-2877886