I urge the implementation of a new policy in Illinois:

1. Banning single-use plastic bags at commercial retailers
2. Banning paper bags except for delivery/pick-up service
3. Imposing a 7-10 cent fee on those delivery bags

Why is banning plastic and paper bags important? 

I have completed roadside cleanup with Scouting organizations for over a decade. We would come across piles of plastic bags that littered ditches and made Illinois appear to be an unattractive location. Property value decreases on average by 7% in a littered neighborhood. 

Additionally, the plastic dilemma has been growing worse. Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years, and production is expected to double by 2050. 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. The result is more than 150 million tons of plastic in the oceans, and growing microplastics in our water and food that affect our gut health. While 11 million tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, by 2040 it is expected that this will increase to 39 million tons. 40% of all global plastic ends up in the environment. 

Since plastic won’t dissolve for over 1,000 years, it continues to plague the planet. Almost every seabird eats plastic, and it affects over 700 species. Plastic waste is often burned, producing plastic air pollution. This can lead to illness, birth defects, and early death. 

What legislation exists?

Currently, there is no national plastic bag ban in the United States. However, some states and regions have already implemented bans. The states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, the American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico have already banned plastic bags. 

There is no definitive legislation in Illinois regarding plastic bags. In 2019, the Checkout Bag Tax Act was introduced and discussed for two years before a Senate Sine Die. Similarly, a carryout bag fee bill was introduced in 2021, and was last discussed in January 2022 with no further action.

By June 2020, five municipalities had passed laws in Illinois to curb the use of plastic bags. However, Evanston is the only Illinois community that has banned single-use plastic bags. The others have a 7 or 10-cent bag fee. Previously, bans have been proposed in Chicago, but have been repealed.

Why haven't we already banned bags? 

Many times, however, plastic bag bans are ineffective because paper bags are offered as alternatives. When customers can easily get a different type of disposable bag for free, the same issues emerge: littered bags, a polluted environment, and a lack of purchasing reusable shopping bags.

Evidence shows that paper bags can be more damaging to the environment than plastic bags. The EPA said that manufacturing and recycling paper bags generate much more air and water pollution. Additionally, they take up more space in landfills. 

The concern is that banning plastic bags and opting for paper or reusable bags will come at a high expense to retailers and low-income customers. This is because plastic bags cost a penny to produce, while reusable shopping bags cost between 10-25 cents. Because of this, many consumers have stated that they would prefer a 7-cent tax on plastic bags rather than a ban.

What is the solution? 

The average American family accumulates 60 shopping bags in only four trips to the grocery store. That is an average of 15 bags per trip. Currently, retailers could purchase 100 bags for $1. Each trip costs the retailer 15 cents. Meanwhile, a retailer could only purchase 10 reusable bags for $1. However, if a family instead purchased 15 reusable shopping bags and the retailer doesn’t have to provide continuous plastic bags, the retailer just made a profit of $13.50.  

If a 7-cent tax were imposed on plastic bags instead, a family would pay $1.05 per shopping trip on average for plastic bags, meaning after about 15 shopping trips, the plastic bags would be more expensive than having to pay for reusable shopping bags. The average American family uses 1,500 plastic bags each year, which is $105 each year. 

Retailers only providing reusable shopping bags at a cost could also promote different marketing strategies, such as businesses creating creative designs to advertise their location. 

Other concerns have arisen due to the effects of the New Jersey plastic bag ban earlier in 2022. However, amendments that they are making include allowing third-party delivery systems, restaurants, and online grocery orders to continue using plastic bags. Many curbside pickups, delivery, and takeout services struggled with their ban. 

However, a potential suggestion is to allow those vendors to only use paper bags that are at least 40% recyclable and to push vendors to give customers the option of whether they want a bag at all. There could be a 10-cent tax or fee associated with opting for a plastic bag/paper bag in those scenarios, or a “Costco” model could be adopted, where vendors use old shipping boxes to hold the product when delivering to a customer. 

Otherwise, banning plastic bags in most cases outright is the most cost-effective method for businesses and consumers to reduce plastic bag usage. It would be helpful before implementing legislation to research the average plastic bag usage in Illinois to track the reduction after legislation is enacted. However, without placing a ban, plastic bag usage will only decrease by 28%.