ENSTU 300: Critical Thinking & Communication in Environmental Studies
Plastic Shopping Bag Policy
Noah Sforza, Environmental Studies Program, California State University
Monterey Bay
Policy Context
There are three major types of policy that
pertain to plastics; local, state, and federal.
These types of policy are created and
enacted by different groups and levels of
government. The development of plastic
policy in the USA is driven by public
interest, much like other types policy. The
efforts of most of these policies is to limit
and restrict the use and distribution of plastic
in the USA.
Local Policy
Local policy can be influenced by many
different groups, such as, the general public,
grassroots organizations, and state or federal
policy.
An example of local policy includes
Monterey County’s decision to ban plastic
shopping bags, in July of 2014 (Abraham,
2014). This ban pertains to use of single-use
carryout bags, recyclable paper bags, and
reusable bags by retail establishments
(Chapter 10.43, 2014). Although this policy
bans shops from distributing plastic
shopping bags, it still allows paper bags to
be purchased at 10 cents each. This is a cost
and tax incentive to encourage the public to
bring reusable bags. This ban also allows
plastic bags of a 4.0 millimeter thickness to
be sold as reusable bags (Save Our Shores,
2014).
State Policy
State policy is similar to local, as it can be
influenced by many different groups. It can
also be brought on by enough local
government initiative. State policy sees
influence from the top down. For a policy to
take form in the State level it must either be
a federal law that also applies to states or be
voted on in the form of a proposition by
state citizens.
California is one of the first states to ban
plastic shopping bags. This state policy was
voted on in 2016, under the proposition 67
(AB 158, 2013-2014). It won with a 52
percent to 48 percent vote. This state policy
reflects the earlier local policies passed. It is
written similarly and has the same restraints
on shops that once offered single use plastic
shopping bags. Shops such as grocery stores,
retail stores, convenience stores, food and
liquor markets no longer are able to provide
customers plastic shopping bags, instead
they can offer paper bags at the price of 10
cents each (Luna, 2016)
Federal Policy
Similarly, to local and state policies,
influences come from many different areas.
Federal policy is more complex in the sense
that it is often proposed as a bill. A bill must
be passed by both The House of
Representatives and The Senate and then it
is given to the President. The President must
sign the bill to complete the process from
proposed to passed. Additionally, if a bill is
not passed during a certain period of
Congress, for example during the 111th
Congress, then it is erased and must be
reintroduced (Civic Impulse, 2018).
As of 2018, no bill has been passed banning
single use plastic bags. One act was
introduced in 2009 to the 111th Congress, to
amend the Internal Revenue Code from 1986
(HR 2091, 2009). This amendment was H.R.
2091, titled as the “Plastic Bag Reduction
Act of 2009” and was not enacted. The
intention of this act was not to ban plastic
bags all together, but rather to tax the sale
and distribution of single use plastic bags
(Civic Impulse, 2018). The purpose was to
create a “Single-Use Carryout Bag Trust
Fund” with the taxes. This trust fund would
make payments into the Land and Water
Conservation fund.

Policy Conclusion
Policy can be put into action on many
different levels. It is often most effective on
the local or state level as seen from the
examples of different policy. Yet when an
act or bill is passed through the federal level,
it can make a big impact quickly. The many
different levels of policy often reflect the
interests of stakeholders.

2
Literature Cited http://saveourshores.org/monterey-county-
passes-plastic-bag-ban/

Abraham, K. (2014, July 29). County Board

of Supervisors passes plastic bag ban.
Retrieved March 04, 2018, from
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blo
gs/news_blog/county-board-of-supervisors-
passes-plastic-bag-ban/article_d07a482c-
16b7-11e4-bd2e-001a4bcf6878.html

AB 158, California Legislature, (2013-2014)

Use of Single-Use Carryout Bags, Chapter

10.43 (2014)

Civic Impulse. (2018). H.R. 2091 — 111th

Congress: Plastic Bag Reduction Act of
2009. Retrieved from
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/
hr2091

HR 2091, 11th Congress, (2009-2010)

Luna, T. (2016, November 10). Californians

say farewell to the plastic bag. Retrieved
March 04, 2018, from
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-
government/capitol-
alert/article113898813.html

M. (2012, May 1). No plastic challenge | Eco

Toys Blog. Retrieved March 04, 2018, from
http://ecotoysblog.com/2012/05/no-plastic-
challenge/

Save Our Shores. (2014, July 31). Monterey

County Passes Plastic Bag Ban. Retrieved
March 04, 2018, from