Grocery Bags and Takeout Containers Aren't Enough. It's Time To Phase Out All Single-Use Plastic

So important to know and for each of us to be taking increased responsibility and action to lessen the harmful impact we create for ourselves, each other, and our Earth Mother. ― Molly 

Faced with an unholy tonnage of chip bags, soda bottles, takeout containers and other disposable plastic items flowing into our landfills and our waters, winding up in wildlife, drinking water and food, policymakers in California have tried reining in plastic waste bit by bit. For example, more than 100 cities have adopted restrictions on polystyrene takeout containers, and the state has banned single-use plastic grocery bags.

Considering the magnitude of the problem, however, this item-by-item, city-by-city approach isn't going to cut it.

The state and local rules certainly have raised public awareness about the problem. Denying free plastic bags at checkout or providing plastic straws only on request sends consumers an important message that there's a bigger cost to these everyday items than they may have considered. But the actual flow of trash has been disrupted only modestly.

It's going to take more than a smattering of bans on single items to cure society of its disposable-plastic habit. The sheer volume of plastic trash now littering Earth has become impossible to ignore. It's time for environmentalists, policymakers and elected officials to start planning a broader response: phasing out all single-use plastic, not just the most pernicious.

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