Are waste bans an efficient strategy to help people reduce plastic waste?
Picture a local city and in that city, the entire town calls a meeting. During the meeting, the city manager and Mayor are informed that the people of the community want to get rid of their plastic waste. The Mayor agrees however, their local government doesn’t have the authority to regulate plastic use in any way. Businesses use plastic products and foam cups that litter the streets and waterways of the city, but the local government can’t enforce legislation against private businesses. This may seem like a world of imagination but if you live anywhere in Wisconsin, this is the reality. Plastic and single-use waste has become a major environmental problem as it’s use becomes more widespread. For example, every fast food meal you eat comes with a plastic or foam cup, a plastic wrapped sandwich, and a bag full of more garbage. Plastic is, no doubt, a global icon for pollution and something that many cities struggle to clean up. In this article you will learn exactly what legislation affects you, plastic issues, regulation status, and possible solutions to integrate into your local community.
The ultimate authority in your state comes from the State’s government not local governments. Wisconsin act 302 declares that “No political subdivision (means a city, village, town, or county) may do any of the following: Enact or enforce an ordinance or adopt or enforce a resolution regulating the use, disposition, or sale of auxiliary containers”. In other words, your locally elected officials have no power to change the laws when it comes to plastic regulations. Your town can’t enforce regulation against the use of plastic.
In the city of Waukesha, plastic has become a major obstruction to our recycling efforts. The biggest contributors are plastic bags, ropes, cords, hoses, propane tanks, and batteries. Processing centers are having trouble recycling Waukesha’s products because these, as well as many other non recyclable items, contaminate materials that are meant to be recycled. In fact, 1 out of every 5 items that Waukesha residents recycle, are actually not recyclable. This makes up for 20% of what goes into the facilities. According to the City of Waukesha’s Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator, Dustin Nolan, “the problem seems to be getting worse over time and it's getting more and more expensive over time.” There must be solutions to effectively managing our waste.
Plastic is a problem that is seen everywhere and affects everyone. Many states and stores have been finding ways to reduce plastic. California was the first state to help limit plastic by banning single use bags in 2014 and since then, seven others have followed (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont). A few people were against it at first however, it didn’t take long for everyone to adjust to not using plastic bags. Later in 2016 Guatemala banned plastic bags and disposable utensils. The government of Guatemala gave people a year to prepare for this. Most people weren’t against the ban, with the exception of business people. They viewed it as a useless law and said it wouldn’t make a difference. Guatemala banning plastic has made a huge difference. More than 80% of the town stopped using plastic, although not everything gets recycled. Many companies tell their customers that they use recycled materials even though the products used in the material can’t be recycled. When the waste gets taken and sent to be recycled, they separate it and less than 9% gets recycled.
Although businesses currently have the right to use any sort of materials they want, you and your community are not powerless. At the end of the day, a democracy consists of elected officials who represent the opinions and ideals of their voters! We can urge our state senators to work for legislation pushing back against Wisconsin Act 302. Waukesha County (Senate district 33) delegate Senator Chris Kapenga was a co-sponsor of Wisconsin act 302. Unless his voters voice their concerns, he will not work forward with legislation that will change plastic regulation. To decide that local communities cannot make their own decisions regarding waste is irresponsible and insulting to local government and the people in the community as a whole. Politicians are supposed to work together for compromise, and a reasonable solution to plastic pollution could be a tax on plastic. If the state government can’t work towards compromise then local governments should at least be able to tax businesses on plastic use. Not only would this limit plastic in communities but it would raise extra money for parks, public schools, transportation, and more. The time for action is here, individuals will be the difference all over the world.
Source List:
“Eight States Ban Plastic Bags, but More Prohibit Local Bans.” IER, 8 Oct. 2020, www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/uncategorized/eight-states-ban-plastic-bags-but-more-prohibit-local-bans/.
Wisconsin Legislature: 2015 Wisconsin Act 302, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/related/acts/302.
“Assembly Bill 177.” 2019 Assembly Bill 177, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab177.
Plastic Pollution Coalition. “Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution.” Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 27 Sept. 2019, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2019/9/27/real-solutions-to-plastic-pollution.
The ultimate authority in your state comes from the State’s government not local governments. Wisconsin act 302 declares that “No political subdivision (means a city, village, town, or county) may do any of the following: Enact or enforce an ordinance or adopt or enforce a resolution regulating the use, disposition, or sale of auxiliary containers”. In other words, your locally elected officials have no power to change the laws when it comes to plastic regulations. Your town can’t enforce regulation against the use of plastic.
In the city of Waukesha, plastic has become a major obstruction to our recycling efforts. The biggest contributors are plastic bags, ropes, cords, hoses, propane tanks, and batteries. Processing centers are having trouble recycling Waukesha’s products because these, as well as many other non recyclable items, contaminate materials that are meant to be recycled. In fact, 1 out of every 5 items that Waukesha residents recycle, are actually not recyclable. This makes up for 20% of what goes into the facilities. According to the City of Waukesha’s Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator, Dustin Nolan, “the problem seems to be getting worse over time and it's getting more and more expensive over time.” There must be solutions to effectively managing our waste.
Plastic is a problem that is seen everywhere and affects everyone. Many states and stores have been finding ways to reduce plastic. California was the first state to help limit plastic by banning single use bags in 2014 and since then, seven others have followed (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont). A few people were against it at first however, it didn’t take long for everyone to adjust to not using plastic bags. Later in 2016 Guatemala banned plastic bags and disposable utensils. The government of Guatemala gave people a year to prepare for this. Most people weren’t against the ban, with the exception of business people. They viewed it as a useless law and said it wouldn’t make a difference. Guatemala banning plastic has made a huge difference. More than 80% of the town stopped using plastic, although not everything gets recycled. Many companies tell their customers that they use recycled materials even though the products used in the material can’t be recycled. When the waste gets taken and sent to be recycled, they separate it and less than 9% gets recycled.
Although businesses currently have the right to use any sort of materials they want, you and your community are not powerless. At the end of the day, a democracy consists of elected officials who represent the opinions and ideals of their voters! We can urge our state senators to work for legislation pushing back against Wisconsin Act 302. Waukesha County (Senate district 33) delegate Senator Chris Kapenga was a co-sponsor of Wisconsin act 302. Unless his voters voice their concerns, he will not work forward with legislation that will change plastic regulation. To decide that local communities cannot make their own decisions regarding waste is irresponsible and insulting to local government and the people in the community as a whole. Politicians are supposed to work together for compromise, and a reasonable solution to plastic pollution could be a tax on plastic. If the state government can’t work towards compromise then local governments should at least be able to tax businesses on plastic use. Not only would this limit plastic in communities but it would raise extra money for parks, public schools, transportation, and more. The time for action is here, individuals will be the difference all over the world.
Source List:
“Eight States Ban Plastic Bags, but More Prohibit Local Bans.” IER, 8 Oct. 2020, www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/uncategorized/eight-states-ban-plastic-bags-but-more-prohibit-local-bans/.
Wisconsin Legislature: 2015 Wisconsin Act 302, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/related/acts/302.
“Assembly Bill 177.” 2019 Assembly Bill 177, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab177.
Plastic Pollution Coalition. “Real Solutions to Plastic Pollution.” Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 27 Sept. 2019, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2019/9/27/real-solutions-to-plastic-pollution.