New Jersey Plastic Bag Ban Backfires

New Jersey banned plastic bags. Usage went down.

People chose alternative bags. Those bags have a larger carbon footprint.

Emissions rose 500%

Congrats everyone!

"This ought to be the motto of the climate lobby: We don’t help the environment, but we feel good about it anyway."

"The problem is that most of these alternative bags are made of non-woven polypropylene, which takes much more plastic to make and isn’t widely recycled. And what about the supposed climate benefits? Well, the study finds that, owing to the larger carbon footprint of the heavier, non-woven polypropylene bags, greenhouse gas emissions rose 500%.

The problem is compounded by the way people use these bags. Though intended to be reused many times, the report says 90% of the new reusable bags are used a mere two or three times. So they are piling up in landfills and homes. Think of your own behavior in misplacing bags around the house or forgetting to bring them when heading out for groceries.

We doubt this reality will lead to second thoughts among the solons who forced this law on Garden State residents and boasted how strict it was. Too often the idea behind green initiatives seems to be that if it’s inflicting pain, it must be working. But the road to this plastic misfire was paved with green intentions—untempered by any serious cost-benefit analysis.

This ought to be the motto of the climate lobby: We don’t help the environment, but we feel good about it anyway."