The use of plastic bags was commonplace in the lives of citizens around the world. Going to the supermarket and being given these bags was the norm, but the scientific community realised that they were dangerous for the environment and their use was discouraged.

The process of raising awareness about the reuse of disposable bags or bags made from 100% recyclable materials began.

Now, a study published in the journal Science looks at the policy of restricting this type of plastic bag in the United States. Under this premise, the authors of the article indicate that in states where they have been banned or taxed, volunteers in coastal cleanups collected between 25 and 47% fewer plastic bags compared to places without restriction policies in this regard.

These bags break down into microplastics and in addition to affecting marine and wildlife, they are also linked to metabolic disorders, neurotoxicity and reproductive damage in humans. In addition, the same study indicated that communities living near high concentrations of marine microplastics have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.Kimberly Oremus, professor of marine science at the University of Delaware and co-author of the research, said that “What we were missing was a direct measurement of litter in the environment,” Oremus explained.

Both Oremus and Anna Papp, the study’s other author and a new postdoctoral researcher in environmental economics at MIT, combined eight years of data from Ocean Conservancy —covering more than 45,000 cleanups in the United States between 2016 and 2023— with information on approximately 180 plastic bag bans and fees implemented between 2017 and 2023. They analyzed plastic bag collection in zip codes with and without restrictions, and considered differences in bag policies, including whether they banned all bags or only certain types.