Rochelle Harris
As a California resident, I have been affected by the recent implantation of California Proposition 67, also known as the plastic bag ban. This proposition made paper and plastic bags distributed by stores purchasable to the shoppers. Who did this affect? Any and all grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores no longer provide free single use bags for customers (Luna, n.d.).
Within the United States alone, over 100 billion plastic bags are used per year (“Reduce Waste Through Reusing a Shopping Bag”, n.d.). There are many environmental effects that go hand-in-hand with the creation, development, and disposal of plastic bags. People often liter and leave their garbage in public. This circulates before and if it gets picked up. This then influences others that this type of behavior is acceptable, even unintentionally. Instead of being recycled, most plastic ends up at the local landfill. According to Bond (n.d.), “In 2011, Americans produced around 250 million tons of waste, 32 millions of that solid waste was plastic” (). Although this accounts for more plastic than just plastic bags, consider the amounts of bags that are thrown by each family every day within the United States alone. That number is incredible. Since California shares it’s existence with the ocean, it is not surprising that plastic is one of the largest sources of ocean liter. This puts all of the ocean and it’s surrounding creatures at risk. Ocean debris kills around 1 million sea birds, as well as 100,000 marine animals that include whales, seals and turtles (“Why Use Reusable Shopping Bags”, 2016).
By identifying that there was an issue, plastic consumption and waste, California took a stand to create a solution that could provide relief over time with the intervention of a plastic bag ban. The needs assessment proved that there was a considerable amount of concern about the amount of plastic being used.
There are several possible ways to solve this issue. Understanding the precipitating and perpetuating factors helps narrow down a solution that will be most effective. Establishments providing free and numerous bags to customers increased the use of plastic. If the plastic bag ban were implemented, that would allow for establishments to charge a minimum of ten cents per bag bought for use and promote the idea of reusable bags to better the environment.
One of the overall goals of the plastic bag ban was to promote the use of reusable shopping bags. For example, my local Albertsons has large signs attached to the outdoor cart corals with bright words informing customers to, “Don’t forget your bags!!” They designed this intervention by allowing Proposition 67 to be voted on by California residents. It was passed. California Proposition 65 was also considered on the ballot. Proposition 65 was for the dedication of revenue from disposable bag sales to go to a special wildlife conservation fund. Although it did not pass, the money from sales of plastic bags was intended for use toward covering costs and educating consumers on the subject (“California Proposition 65, Dedication of Revenue from Disposable Bag Sales to Wildlife Conservation Fund (2016)”, n.d.).
Implementing the ban has now been in full effect. Although it has only been going for a few months, if we reflect upon other cities and their positive results, we can speculate how well it can go for the rest of California. San Jose has had a plastic bag ban in place and has seen a reduction of litter. This has saved taxpayer money in terms of not having to pick up the liter, as well as seeing a reduction in clogged storm drains (Rogers, 2017).
Although the task of remembering to bring your reusable bags into stores can be tiresome, the effects on the environment are going to be better in the long run. We can save money, have a cleaner environment, and save animals. The option to still use plastic/paper bags is still available, for a small fee. Why not remember your bags next time?
References:
Bond, S. (n.d.). Where do plastic bags go?. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/10/voters-approve-plastic-bag-ban-whats-happens-next/
California proposition 65, dedication of revenue from disposable bag sales to wildlife conservation fund (2016). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_65,_Dedication_of_Revenue_from_Disposable_Bag_Sales_to_Wildlife_Conservation_Fund_(2016)
California proposition 67, plastic bag ban veto referendum (2016). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_67,_Plastic_Bag_Ban_Veto_Referendum_(2016)
Luna, T. (n.d.). Californians say farewell to the plastic bag. Retrieved from http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article113898813.html
Reduce waste through reusing a shopping bag. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/index.asp?SEC=73D7CC3D-BB6C-4CF8-89E9-72F8A7C96402&Type=B_BASIC
Rogers, P. (2017). Voters approve plastic bag ban: what’s happens next?. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/10/voters-approve-plastic-bag-ban-whats-happens-next/
Why use reusable shopping bags. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.reusethisbag.com/why.php
Hello Rochelle,
I am from California as well so I was also affected by proposition 67. At the beginning when this proposition passed I had mixed emotions about it. For example, “there goes California again making a lot of people do what we don’t want to do.”But over these few months after I cooled down a bit I actually like it. I am an outdoor kind of guy and what made me mad the most is seeing plastic bags all over trails and campsites. Nature to me is stress reliever form work and school. I go out there and enjoy the scenery and then go back home waiting for the next adventure.
What I have noticed lately is that there are less plastic bags in the campsites. I think this is because either the lack of plastic bags available or people are starting to pick after themselves more. What ever the reason I am all for it anything that helps the environment is perfectly fine with me.
Like you mentioned still to this day I still forget to take my bag in to the store with me. Which at time can be very irritating but at least I keep them in the car. So during checkout if I have a lot of thing I purchase more bags knowing that at least some of that money is hopefully going to a good cause. Or at times I just instruct the worker to dump the stuff in the cart as I have the bags in the car. What I also like about the reusable bags is that I don’t have to worry about the bag ripping which is a plus.
Josh R.
Good Evening Rochelle,
I absolutely enjoyed this post because everywhere in this country we experience the use and waste of plastic bags. It is very positive that there are bans being implemented to reduce the waste of these items.
Many communities and local stores in my location, of the northeastern area of the country, try to support the use of reusable bags. I see them being sold and promoted in many places to reduce the waste of plastic in our environment. I also see charges at some locations just to use a plastic bag and because of that charge people seem to hesitate and not use the “convenience” of the plastic bag.
Whenever I get plastic bags I try to find ways to reuse them, so that they do not go to waste with a one time usage, but still what happens to them in our environment after multiple uses? I feel the ban is a good plan to help open the eyes of individuals to help reduce the usage of plastic bags and lower pollution in the environment.
As you mentioned with the plastic bags polluting the ocean, many people thrive to California for beach and surf. How upsetting to go to an environment that is polluted and trashed. What negative emotions and feelings can evolve from that?
As we learned in this week’s lesson, our environment has a very strong affect on our personal lives and behaviors, and specific standards to implement a positive change for the better of society can be thoroughly reviewed with the studies of applied social psychology.
Best Regards,
A. Dorsey