To Ban or Not to Ban: A Guide for Regulating Plastic Bags
Prakriti Shukla, Carlos Mesa Guerra, Khyati Rathore, and Rhea Lopes
Governments across the USA are considering a variety of regulations to control the use of plastic bags. The cause for this wave of regulations is the financial pressure that plastic bag management places on local governments. Additionally, plastic bags are hazardous to public and environmental health. Thus, environmentally conscious municipalities are intensely working towards their zero waste goals by imposing regulations on plastic bags. This study analyzes different regulatory tools to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bags and the state actions that aid or impede this process. A comparative analysis of these tools will help local governments identify the most effective regulatory tool to further their zero waste goals.
Shukla, P., Mesa, C., Rathore, K., and Lopes, R. (2019). To Ban or Not to Ban: A Guide for Regulating Plastic Bags. Dept. of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Full Report. Issue Brief
