In late June the Texas Supreme Court struck down Laredo's single use plastic bag ban, deciding that it violates state law. This ruling effectively makes all local plastic bag ban ordinances in Texas unenforceable.  Supporters of reducing the use of single use plastic bags must now turn to the next session of the Texas legislature to try to get state law amended to allow for local ordinance options.

While this court ruling will stall efforts to reduce single use plastic in Texas, there is encouraging news in other parts of the country and around the world, and there is steadily growing interest in addressing the proliferation of plastic waste that pollutes the environment. Below are some examples of the progress.

Ireland has greatly reduced plastic bag use with fees:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ6c85ypdhU       

Malibu, Vancouver, and other cities are adopting new regulations to reduce single use plastic:
(California has already adopted a state wide ban on certain plastic bags)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQYpvB9er1k   

Seattle has a plastic bag ban and will start banning plastic straws & utensils this July:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_hBxtkPFIQ   

NYT article on plastic bans:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/opinion/sunday/plastic-bags-pollution-oceans.html     

Nat. Geo. : Are you eating plastic?
A summary of the impacts of plastic waste in the environment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjT8GG0ETQg     

for feedback or questions, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com