"Assessing the Impact of New Jersey's Plastic Ban: A Mixed Bag"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by USA TODAY
A study shows that New Jersey's plastic consumption tripled after the state's plastic bag ban, as consumers turned to purchasing plastic reusable bags made with non-recyclable materials. While the ban led to a decrease in single-use plastic bag volume, the use of alternative bags caused a surge in plastic consumption. The ban also resulted in retailers profiting from alternative bag sales, raising questions about the effectiveness of such bans in curbing pollution and emissions.