The repealed plastic bag ban in Texas, US, led to some less-sustainable consumer choices, but had a positive impact overall. In the EU, the use of lightweight plastic bags dropped by 4.7 billion in a year following binding legislation, but campaigners say that more can be done. These disparate outcomes are reflected in a new study from the University of Riverside, California. Dr. Hai Che, a lead author on the study, examines policies against single-use plastic bags in grocery stores and other retail outlets in Austin and Dallas, Texas. The policies in question were all eventually repealed.
