Plastic bags are one of the most common types of litter. 12 US states have banned disposable plastic bags, including California, Delaware, and Colorado. Not only does Indiana not ban plastic bags, it specifically prohibits cities and counties from placing their own restrictions and bans on them. Multiple articles have declared Indiana one of the "least green states", and this law is counterproductive. Plastic bags are often ingested by animals like sea turtles and birds who mistake them for food. Animals that are already listed as endangered, like the leatherback sea turtle, can choke on them and die. They also leach toxins into the water and soil, and release greenhouse gases as they decompose. Plastic bags use enormous amounts of fossil fuels to produce. 40% of oil resources that go into manufacturing plastic are used just to make plastic bags. Although plastic bags are often recyclable, less than 10% are actually recycled. Most end up in the ocean, on beaches, or in waterways. By not allowing bans on plastic bags, Indiana endangers some of the world's most fragile ecosystems.