Title: TASK: The plastic bag ban in California
Course: GG 22/23 Leuphana-Copy > Section: 2.1 Plastic // Recycle

(a) To ban or not to ban plastic bags?

A number of communities in California, as elsewhere in the U.S., have adopted laws to regulate the use of single-use plastic bags from their businesses or ban them completely. In a landmark decision in 2013, Los Angeles became the largest city in the U.S. to ban all single-use plastic bags from stores (source 1). In so doing, the city attracted activists and policy makers from all over the U.S. to follow their lead; cities like Seattle, Chicago, Portland, and Austin have done the same since.

Read/view source 1 and take detailed notes on the following question:

- What are the benefits and drawbacks of a plastic bag ban as implemented in Los Angeles?

(b) Opposition to the ban

In the follow-up to this development, state legislature in California passed a statewide law, “SB 270,” that would ban carryout bags and force stores and businesses to sell multiuse plastic or paper bags for at least 10 cents instead. While the law was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014, it did not immediately go into effect because of strong resistance by the plastic bag industry. Why? California state law allows referendums to be held about new laws if enough citizens sign a petition. A referendum signature campaign largely financed by the American Progressive Bag Alliance, the plastic bag industry’s trade association, achieved exactly this, and so a referendum (“proposition 67”) and an initiative (“proposition 65”) were put on the ballot in California in the November 2016 election. (sources 2 and 3).

Read source 2 and watch the video (source 3) and take detailed notes on these questions:

- How was the plastic bag ban law put on hold?
- Who wanted to stop the law and what are their reasons?
- Do you agree with them? Why (not)?

(c) What is your opinion?

Californians approved the plastic bag ban law and so the measure can go into effect, although with a delay. While environmental advocacy groups like the Surfrider Foundation and others applaud this outcome, it also redirects responsibility for sustainable development back to the citizens and their everyday consumer decisions. (source 4).

Answer these questions and contribute to the forum for this task.
- What is your opinion on this law?
- Do you agree or disagree with this approach?
- Discuss this questions and justify your position and be critical and fair.
- Then, report and discuss your findings in the FORUM: Case study discussion Plastic // Recycle. ( [fa-hand-o-up] You will find helpful guiding questions there.)

[fa-files-o] Materials and resources:

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1. State Plastic Bag Legislation (February 8, 2021)

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2. CNN Money: California plastic bag ban delayed (February 25, 2015)

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3. UC Hastings College Of The Law: CA Prop 65 & Prop 67: Regarding Carry-Out & Single-Use Plastic Bags (September 8, 2016)

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4. Los Angeles Times: Editorial. California banned plastic bags. Now it's up to consumers to stop being wasteful (November 23, 2016)