Low-income residents, small businesses, and jobs would all take a hit with a statewide ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam containers in Connecticut.
The Senate environment committee recently approved a bill that would ban plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, and require paper bags be recyclable and contain 40 percent recycled materials (which begs the question, why not allow recycled plastic?).
The committee already approved a bill barring straws from being handed out unless requested.
Town after town in the state have banned plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam, leading to this moment.
In addition to not even being effective (World Resources Institute), and the unintended consequences, if the goal is to deal with highly publicized world ocean pollution, it is misguided because the United States has virtually no share of that pollution, according to Statista.
Governor Ned Lamont (D) recommended a 10 cent per-bag tax in February. According to the Yankee Institute, this tax would cost shoppers approximately $30 million. But still, even Lamont was short of proposing an all-out ban.
This move does not just hurt manufacturers and workers in the industry, but it will negatively impact small businesses that will have to change the containers they use, adding costs for them, and worse products for consumers.
Finally, shipping companies like Amazon will have to use different materials to ship orders, possibly increasing costs of shipping and handling.
Other states that banned these materials are California, Hawaii, Maine, New York, and others, according to National Conference of State Legislators.
See More on Plastic Bans:
Cuomo & Legislators Will Ban Plastic Bags, Tax Paper in NY
Worst-in-Nation Bill to Ban Plastic Bags, Straws, Styrofoam Containers Advances in NJ
Maryland About to Become First Nanny-State to Ban Styrofoam
See More on Connecticut:
Connecticut Could Become Most Tolled State in the Nation
CT Governor Ned Lamont Demands Regressive Statewide Soda Tax