Single-Use Plastic Bans

Single-use plastics refer to products that are typically disposed of after use, including plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery, and plastic bags. In 2023 the global plastic market was valued at $712 billion, and it is expected to see considerable growth over the next decade.

Plastic production has doubled since 2000, with one report finding that the world produces 450 million metric tons of plastic waste yearly. Plastic bag bans in several U.S. states and cities have cut single-use plastic bag consumption by six billion bags annually. Globally, Rwanda has had a single-use plastic ban in place since 2008, which has become a deeply ingrained commitment among its residents. Australia enacted a plastic bag ban in 2018, and India followed in 2022 with a ban on straws, cutlery, and food packaging.

Regardless of recent federal action countering this shift in the U.S., with growing recognition of the negative externalities of plastics, it is likely that more such legislation will be passed in the future. Plastic bag bans are difficult to enforce and have unintended consequences, however, so they are not the only solution. Planners should support their communities in moving towards comprehensive solutions for more sustainable practices and less waste generation.