How to Ban the Plastic Bag
Towns and countries working to reduce plastic bag consumption. Interactive version available at http://bagitmovie.com/bagittown.html.
I’d love to thank our reader, NJResident, for commenting on the trailer we posted for the film Bag It and asking some questions about how one actually goes about banning the bag. At Throwaway Nation, we’re huge advocates of never seeing another single use plastic bag ever again. And we’re even huger advocates of showing people how they can make that happen in their community.
Single use bags are bad news. They're the numero uno consumer product in the world, and over 500 billion end up photodegrading in waterways and clogging up storm drains and sewer systems. They've been banned or taxed from China to Japan, Bangladesh to Italy. But America is behind the 8-ball. Following are answers to our reader's questions and tips on how to ban the bag in your community.
Why isn't Bag It available on Netflix?
The short answer is that the movie hasn’t been released yet. Bag It is currently being distributed for public screenings in schools and community centers. However, the film will be released in the spring. At that time, Netflix will have the opportunity to pick it up (instead of the other way around), so if you currently view movies on Netflix and want to watch Bag It there, you can help the film out by saving it to your queue.
What are some successful programs for banning plastic bags?
Again, the short answer is that it varies from town to town. Here are some of the different strategies used to ban the bag and it depends on your town and your community.
Contests :: One way to encourage behavior change is to try to do it better than your neighbors. Colorado towns Aspen and Teulluride decided to challenge each other to see who could reduce their plastic bag use the most, and then a few other towns joined in, making it a multi-town challenge across 4 states.
The downside with contests is that behavior tends to go back to normal after contests are over and communities (excluding the most dedicated members of those communities) resume plastic bag use at pre-contest levels. However, contests can be a great way to introduce the issue and to start to build awareness. And as our reader pointed out, a contest is a way to make banning the bag fun and engaging instead of overwhelming and controversial.
Ordinances :: They say that if you really want something done, give it to a busy person who will punish people who don’t do it. If you want to ban the bag in your community, visit the Bag It web site and download the Become a Bag It Town Toolkit, which includes a sample ordinance.
Pay-Per-Bag-Plan :: In place of an all out ban, some communities prefer a per-bag fee on either paper or plastic bags. In this case, shoppers can still use SUDs, they just have to pay for them. In many cases, the fee is just as effective at changing behavior as a ban (like in Ireland, where a 22p bag fee has reduced consumption by 90%). In others, the fees from the bag go to cleaning up trash-choked rivers (like in DC, where a bag fee helps clean up the dirty Anacostia)
How do I ban the bag in my community?
Great question! It's one thing to talk about the problems, it's an altogether different one to work toward solutions. To start banning the bag in your town, contact Emily Utter at Bag It. She's been through the rigamaroll a few times and has helped pass bag bans across California, and she will be able to help you determine the best way to ban the bag in your community.
Stay tuned for a review of the Bag It film!
Bag It, Community, Plastic Bag Ban, Plastic Bags in Films, Living Without Suds
Reader Comments (2)
Thanks ThrowAwayNation for your thorough reply to my recent questions. I've forwarded the information in your blog today, you found some great sources of information and links.
Since writing to you, we have talked to David Allen from Telluride,, who started the "Colorado" contest, he was very enthused to share their experiences.
Sure a ban or fee on bags would probably be the more effective things to do, but communities have run into legal issues and road blocks with those methods, so we exploring a more fun campaign.
Our community is reaching out to nearby towns to launch a contest, similar to Colorado's. I'll keep you updated. It's all in the planning stages, complete with creative PR events which should appeal to all ages in the community.
Really, really looking forward to your movie review of Bag It !
Wouldn't it be great if your website could motivate people to see Bag It when it is released. How about a countdown to it's release, once the date is known?
The movie has actually changed some things we do everyday, and NJ really needs to wake up! Look around people, those plastic bags are an eyesore !
ThrowAway nation I'm concerned. Yesterday's news may hurt the reusable bag movement and we need to address this latest research that reusable bags harbor bacteria.
Big article in our local newspaper.
Your thoughts ?
We need to address this issue head-on if our reduce plastic bag campaign will be successful.