Tag: plastic

The Question Linking Countries Around the World: Should We Ban the Bag?

By: Jayla Cornelius

The permanent ban of plastic bag usage in commercial spaces has been an ongoing issue linking cities around the world. In countries like Australia, the conversation continues as the local government considers the institution of the “Plastics Reduction and Circular Economy Act.” This act, much like similar acts being proposed in other countries, aims to “protect the environment and human health … promote and support the principles of a circular economy (and) reduce the impact … of items, waste from items and waste material on the environment and human health,” according to Environment Minister James Griffin. This act took effect June 1, 2022 and these efforts are coupled with encouragement from businesses and local store owners for consumers to switch to reusable bags.

Image Credit: Anna Shvets via pexels.com


This conversation in Australia is just as important to the one that started in Bangladesh back in 2002 when it passed its landmark bill banning single-use bags. This was an interesting bill not only because it would go on to pioneer the plastic bag ban movement, but also because the punishments for violating this act brought an added seriousness to the issue. According to Rule 6ka of Clause-5 under Section-9 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, the penalty for using plastic bags/products made of polyethylene or poly-propeleyne was astounding. For production of these banned items: 10 years sentence of “vigorous prison” or a 1 million taka (10,750 USD) fine. For sale, store, distribution, transportation, or use for commercial purposes: 6 month sentence of vigorous prison or 10 thousand taka (107.50 USD) fine. Although this ban proved difficult to implement and enforce, it highlighted the importance and severity of the issue as it blatantly affected the surrounding ecosystems.

To bring this conversation back home, we can take a quick look at what is happening here, in the United States. According to the most recent report published on February 8, 2021 by the National Conference of State Legislatures, eight states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont—have banned single-use plastic bags. The famous question of “should we ban the bag?” is coming under fire, however. Researchers at the University of Georgia found that specific California communities with this bag policy “saw sales of four-gallon trash bags increase by 55%, to 75%, and sales of eight-gallon trash bags increase 87%, to 110%.” The intentions of this ban seem to be backfiring as the demand for unregulated bags increased. Overall, the researchers deemed that the effects of the ban are a net positive but the data serves as a warning to all concerned that this will not be an easy issue to fix. 

To wrap things up for now, I would like everyone to reflect on the detrimental effects that plastic disposal has had on our ecosystems for decades. A list of major contributors to plastic pollution have poisoned, starved, and killed over 100 million marine organisms each year. Over this time, many grassroots organizations have advocated for the removal of plastic sources ranging from plastic soda holder rings to plastic bottles and cutlery. I encourage everyone reading to join me in continuing this conversation and finding ways on campus, no matter how small, to help us move towards a cleaner world. 

Here are some resources for anyone interested in exploring this issue further:

NSW plastic bag ban explained: How it affects you | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

Single Use Plastics Ban Burwood Council (nsw.gov.au)

The Biggest Contributors to Plastic Waste in our Oceans – How Everyday Australians Can do their Bit – Eat Pray Workout

Which Plastics are the Major Contributors to Plastic Pollution? | rePurpose Global Blog

Bangladesh: world leader in banning plastic bags – Ecospearbd

Are plastic bag bans backfiring? | TechCrunch

Behind the Triangle: Why You Can’t Recycle All Plastic

Author: Maddy Chong ’23

Recycling is often hailed as “the consumer’s solution to climate change,” and companies tout their sustainability focuses, emphasizing “recyclability” and “going green.” In truth, however, recycling is a deeply flawed system, and we are quickly seeing the consequences of its limitations. 

Plastics are particularly difficult to recycle and can cause confusion when we ask ourselves “Which bin does this go in?” One especially confusing aspect is the (in)famous recycling sign. Found on nearly every plastic item, one of the most common sustainability myths is that anything with the recycling sign can be recycled. In this article, we’ll dive into the history of the symbol, what it really means, and why we have to watch out for greenwashing. 

The History

In 1970, in response to a design contest for the first Earth Day, college student Gary Anderson designed the Universal Recycling Symbol (URS). 

 (https://www.symbols.com/symbol/universal-recycling-symbol)

The contest was sponsored by the Container Corporation of America (CCA), a company producing recycled paperboard and interested in raising awareness of environmental issues. Anderson won a scholarship prize for his entry, and he explained that the symbol was inspired by the Mobius Strip, a figure made with a folded strip of paper, creating a single continuous edge. This symbolized the idealistic version of recycling in which items are held infinitely in a circular economy. While the CCA modified the symbol slightly from Anderson’s submission, the design is now widely recognized.

The issue, however, is that in 1988, the US Society of the Plastics Industry developed something called the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system. The purpose of this system was to simplify recycling of plastics for programs across the US by differentiating the different types; each type has to be recycled separately from the others to ensure success. The way they chose to portray this information is by placing a number, 1-7, within a simplified version of the URS, and each number corresponds to a different type of plastic.

(https://sustainablepackaging.org/101-resin-identification-codes/)

Immediately, we see a problem emerging; a system used to identify plastics (which aren’t all recyclable) uses a sign that signifies that something is recyclable. 

Meanwhile different variants of the symbol were also developed, with some indicating that something is recyclable, others that the item is made of recycled materials, and still others emerging. 

The invention of the RIC system, combined with the development of different variations of the symbol, has today created a complex, confusing knowledge system. What started off as a seemingly simple idea has now been co-opted and actually makes recycling more difficult for American consumers. 

So why is this a problem?

The biggest problem is contamination. This occurs when recycling is done incorrectly and can arise from trying to recycle things that are dirty, made from an non recyclable material, or otherwise not sorting things correctly. Contamination is a huge problem in the recycling industry, and it is time consuming and inefficient to sort contaminated bins, so they are often just sent to the landfill as trash.

In addition, even when done correctly, plastic is always downcycled. What this means is that it loses value every time that it is recycled. So, after only 1 or 2 goes, even the most recyclable plastics have to be turned into a final, nonrecyclable product. Thus, the need for virgin plastic isn’t stopped by recycling and is slowed at best. 

There is also very little demand for post-consumer materials. Transporting and recycling materials (even when they are not contaminated) is inefficient and costly, so it is often cheaper to just use virgin materials. This is why many types of plastic (think 3-7) are rarely accepted – there is just no monetary incentive to do so. This problem is further emphasized by the fact that the US can no longer ignore our problem and sell waste to other countries. 

On an individual level, recycling is also difficult. Companies have caught on that more and more people are looking for sustainable options. However, instead of opting for sustainable practices, many have just turned to greenwashing. This is the concept of using symbols like the color green, plants, or the words “environmentally friendly” on marketing. Now, to determine if something is actually sustainable, consumers have to research and invest time into their purchasing choices. Not everyone is willing to do this, and corporations get away with branding their products as something they aren’t. 

Recycling standards also change by location and time, so people must stay up to date and informed to recycle properly. Changes often aren’t communicated broadly or clearly, and this leads to further contamination in our recycling streams. 

So what now?

The state of affairs seems gloomy, certainly. But, recycling isn’t a completely moot point. By improving the system we currently have while also developing and working towards something better, we can collectively work towards brighter futures. 

The first step is moving away from plastics in general. Decreasing our use will not only reduce how much is sent to be recycled (and later landfilled), but also lower demand. Plastic is made from oil, after all, so it is in our favor to produce as little as possible. Finding alternatives is a big part of this. 

On a personal level, find reusable versions of the most common single-use items. Things like utensils, dishware, and cups are some of the most common products made from plastic (and usually aren’t recyclable due to food contamination). On a larger scale, encourage research into alternatives and support legislation that focuses on plastics/recycling to help shift our society away from our plastic reliance. 

Once we’ve started to eliminate unnecessary use, paying attention to what we do have to use can help reduce contamination. This requires learning about whether products are actually recyclable and/or sustainable and not falling prey to companies looking to make money. One resource that makes this especially easy as a Princeton student is the Recycling App. Supported by the Office of Sustainability, students can look up most items to determine if and where they can dispose of specific items. Many cities have similar guidelines online, available to residents looking to be informed about the practices in their hometowns.

As consumers, we have a responsibility to learn about what happens to the products we use and to play an active role in improving the system we live in.