They found that plastic-bag litter dropped significantly in areas with bag laws, even as the national share of plastic bags found during cleanups increased to 6.7% in 2023 from 4.5% in 2016.

They found that plastic-bag litter dropped significantly in areas with bag laws, even as the national share of plastic bags found during cleanups increased to 6.7% in 2023 from 4.5% in 2016.

Policies that ban or impose fees on plastic bags are associated with a 25% to 47% decrease in plastic bag litter in shoreline cleanups, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

One viral study from 2018 claimed that a cotton bag would have to be reused 20,000 times to offset the environmental impact of producing it, while other studies have criticized plastic bag bans ...

A recent comprehensive national study by Environment America, cited by the World Economic Forum, recognizes New Jersey’s plastic bag ban as the most effective of the 10 states in America with ...

A new study from the University of Delaware and Columbia University looked at plastic bag bans and fees in jurisdictions across the United States to gauge their effectiveness. The researchers found ...

Eight states have banned single-use plastic bags from stores, and the results of the bans have been a mixed bag, with some improvement in plastic waste but some lingering problems.

Plastic bag bans work, new study shows Fees and restrictions on single-use grocery bags mean less trash enters the ecosystem. Lauren Leffer Jun 19, 2025 2:00 PM EDT ...

As Allegheny County considers a plastic bag ban, we wanted to dig deeper into a recent study. Researchers looked at the impact of New Jersey’s statewide ban, which started in 2022.

That extra fee at the grocery store for a plastic shopping bag isn’t just an inconvenience –– it is actually making a difference for marine ecosystems, according to a new study.

Plastic pollution remains one of our largest–and growing– environmental threats. From wildlife entanglement to the ubiquitous microplastics contamination inside our own bodies, it’s clear ...