ABSTRACT
Research indicates governmental organizations in the United States (US) are not making legislative decisions on plastic bag use based on substantiated scientific research. US plastic bag legislation appears to be a symbolic gesture rather than substantive solution to perceived environmental concerns (Santarpio, 2012; Burnett, 2013; Lewis, Verghese and Fitzpatrick, 2010; O’Reilly, 2000; Brittain and Rich, 2015; Adler 2016; Taylor and Villas-Boas, 2016; EIA, 2016). Daley (2017) and Klepper (2017) found at least four states that have banned plastic bag bans with many municipalities following suit. The authors discuss how governments are learning the science behind the plastic bag issues does not support the rhetoric put forth to promote plastic bag bans and fees and that plastic bags may be an environmentally correct solution rather than a problem.
Keywords
Sustainable, Green, Plastic Bags, Paper Bags, Reusable Bags, Bag Bans, Bag Fees, Bag Legislation, Green, Environment