California bags plastic bags.

• Author: Schultz, Jennifer
• Position: TRENDS & TRANSITIONS

Plastic bags are one of the most common consumer items on the planet--and one of the most controversial. Around the world, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion bags are used each year, many of which can be recycled, but aren't. In addition to clogging storm drains and piling up in landfills, they end up in rivers, oceans, parks and streets and are one of the earth's leading sources of pollution. Wind and water currents carry bags to the ocean, where they can be lethal to marine life and the aquatic environment. Often, they can be found in large, swirling ocean expanses known as "gyres," which capture as much as 1.6 billion pounds of plastic bags, bottles and other debris each year. And lastly, during the bags' production process, greenhouse gases are emitted.

Over the past decade, a number of local governments have imposed bans, taxes and recycling measures to reduce their use. This fall, California became the first state to ban plastic bags, starting next July 1.

Some jurisdictions have opted for an outright ban, while others have levied a tax, encouraged recycling or decided on some combination of the three. In 2007, San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags. Two years later, the District of Columbia established a 5-cent-per-bag tax on carryout bags--paper and plastic--provided by grocery stores, drug stores, liquor stores, restaurants and food vendors. Monthly city revenue from the tax has been steady and helped fund the clean-up of the Anacostia River.

Hawaii has essentially banned plastic bags statewide since all of the most populous counties prohibit non-biodegradable plastic bags at checkout, as well as paper bags that contain less than 40 percent recycled material. And legislation to ban single-use bags is pending in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. Massachusetts and New Jersey, along with New York and Pennsylvania, are considering a fee or tax on the distribution of bags, ranging...