Campaign to ban plastic bottles spreads to Nevada Image By EPN Staff Nevada lawmakers are weighing legislation that would ban the sale or distribution of plastic water bottles of four liters or less in the watershed around Lake Tahoe, which would make it the fifth state with at least a partial ban on plastic water bottles. Officials in California, Colorado, Maine and Massachusetts have taken similar action through measures approved at the state or municipal levels. The Nevada proposal would classify a violation as a misdemeanor and carry a fine of $100 for two violations within a year and $500 for four violations within that same year. Why it matters The legislative effort is the latest in a persistent battle over access to single-use plastics, including bags, cutlery, straws and food storage containers, as a means to curb pollution. Florida, for example, prohibits any state or local ban on plastic bags and is one of 19 states – mostly red-leaning – to maintain such a prohibition. California is one of 12 states – mostly blue-leaning – that have banned plastic bags; more than 500 cities in 28 states have done likewise. The bigger picture The efficacy of these bans remains disputed. Studies have shown effective plastic bag bans can reduce the number of bags used. One report indicated that prohibiting plastic bags in a population of 12 million people cut consumption by 6 million bags per year. Yet plastic restrictions have led to unexpected outcomes: Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business discovered that bans drive consumers to unrestricted alternative plastic products, such as trash bags, to compensate for the inaccessibility of plastic grocery bags. They call this “leakage.” Reusable bags have been linked to bacterial contamination, and bag fees tend to disproportionately burden low-income consumers. The National Institute for Health has highlighted other negative impacts. Additional context When California and Oregon banned single-use bags, they offered thicker plastic bags for a fee as a reusable option. Consumers didn’t treat the thicker bags as reusable – they, too, became single-use. In fact, following California’s ban, the amount of plastic waste in the state reached an all-time high. In response, California took action to close its loophole, with Oregon following suit. New Jersey lawmakers are now considering the repeal of the state's ban on plastic straws and bags after plastic consumption almost tripled. More details Perhaps the most impacted by single-use plastic bans is the restaurant industry. Several large restaurant chains have made efforts to replace plastic straws, cutlery and packaging with alternative materials. Cost remains an issue in the industry, which typically boasts narrow profit margins. An eco-friendly take-home container costs about double that of a plastic clamshell.
