Plastic has a bad reputation - especially single-use plastics. We’ve all seen the photos of sea birds washed ashore with bottle caps, pieces of plastic straws, and other small plastic items in their stomachs, which is heartbreaking.

This has led very well-meaning people to call for plastic bans on single-use bags, straws, and containers. And when plastic can take up to 450 years to break down (a reminder that plastic doesn’t decompose, it breaks down into small pieces called microbeads) or end up in our waterways and animals, it is easy to see why people want to take action.

For many of us, single-use plastics aren’t a necessity. We use them out of sheer convenience. Plastic silverware at picnics or parties because we don’t want to have to carry around and wash lots of dirty dishes is just one common example. 

But for some people, single-use plastics ARE a necessity, and the broad single-use plastic bans can isolate certain groups of people (and make it harder for them to get the materials they rely on). This raises the question: are all single-use plastics bad? 

A few years ago, an article from NPR was released about the impact of plastic straw bans on people who are disabled. It can be easy for those who are able-bodied to offer alternatives to plastic, but those alternatives aren’t necessarily viable for everyone. 

“There are many alternatives to plastic straws — paper, biodegradable plastics, and even reusable straws made from metal or silicone. But paper straws and similar biodegradable options often fall apart too quickly or are easy for people with limited jaw control to bite through. Silicone straws are often not flexible — one of the most important features for people with mobility challenges. Reusable straws need to be washed, which not all people with disabilities can do easily. And metal straws, which conduct heat and cold in addition to being hard and inflexible, can pose a safety risk.”

In this case, single-use plastic straws are something that provides access to nutrition for people - which is obviously a positive thing. 

So, what about single-use plastic bags? It’s hard to argue that single-use plastic bags provide access to food like single-use straws do. But research has shown the impact plastic bag bans have on the environment, and it may not be what you think. 

In areas where single-use plastic bags have been banned, there has been an increase in paper bag usage. There is often a misconception that paper bags are “better”, but in reality, a lot of resources go into making them. 

In fact, “about 10 percent more energy is used to produce a paper bag versus a plastic one, and about 4 times as much water” (source). 

And reusable bags? While they can offer a solution to the single-use bag problem, research has shown that a reusable bag must be used over 50 times in order to bring it below the carbon-footprint level of a plastic bag (source). 

Additionally, it has also been shown that when plastic bag bans are implemented in an area, the sales of plastic garbage bags increase. The reason is that people reuse plastic bags for other things in their homes. That being said, when looked at overall, plastic usage decreased (source). However, it brings up the point that perhaps these flat-out bans aren’t as effective as they could be without education on alternatives people can use instead of plastic bags. 

So, what’s the solution? 

With nuanced issues come nuanced solutions. And while there isn’t a “right” solution, there are different options that can make an impact. 

Some places, like Duluth, Minnesota, have issued a flat “bag fee”, where consumers pay $.05 cents a bag when they’re doing their shopping. Research has shown that charging a fee makes more of an impact than offering a discount. 

Other places have implemented a plastic bag ban, but also implemented a bag fee for paper bags. 

As a consumer? Use those reusable bags over, and over, and over again. 

As for straws, some restaurants, bars, and coffee shops have stopped automatically providing straws - making them available upon request only. As consumers, those who don’t rely on straws for nutrition can simply decline. 

When calling for single-use plastic bans, be sure to think about how they will affect EVERYONE in the community in order to make it as inclusive as possible. Call for education on alternative options in addition to the ban to avoid unintended consequences such as the increased use of other plastic or resource-intensive materials.