I finally saw what happens when a city bans plastic bags after 5 years

I drive through Portland, Oregon about 3 times a month for work, and last week I stopped at a grocery store there. They've had a plastic bag ban since 2011, and honestly I noticed way less litter on the streets compared to my hometown in Ohio where we still use them. But I also saw people buying those thick reusable bags and then tossing them after one use, which kinda defeats the purpose. Do you think these bans actually help long term or just shift the waste to a different type of bag?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicebarnes7d ago

Buying thick reusable bags just to toss them" is basically me buying yoga pants for the "dedication".

henderson.hugo7d ago

Honestly, I see this same pattern with people buying expensive water bottles and then just leaving them in their cars. Thick reusable bags end up in the trash because we treat them like disposable items, not durable ones. It's like we're paying for the idea of being sustainable instead of actually following through on it.