How plastic bag bans and fees are helping the environment

This children’s article, How plastic bag bans and fees are helping the environment, is for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help kids build vocabulary, practise reading and comprehension, and understand how everyday actions like shopping can affect the planet. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, an experienced writer and English teacher.

Plastic bags: big problem, small change

Plastic bags are used all over the world, but they cause big problems for the environment. These bags are very light, so they often blow into rivers, lakes, and oceans. They can harm birds, fish, and other animals that get tangled in them or mistake them for food.

Because of this, many countries have decided to do something about plastic bags. Some have banned them completely. Others have introduced a fee, which means shops must charge people for each plastic bag they use.

A small price that makes a big difference

If your family lives in a country with plastic bag laws, your parents might remember when the rules first changed. Supermarkets started charging just a few pence or cents for plastic bags, and many people were annoyed, but today, most people are used to it. Most even think it’s a good idea now.

Many shoppers bring their own bags from home instead of buying new ones.

So, have the plastic bag laws made a difference? Yes!

A recent study looked at information from over 45,000 litter clean-ups in the United States between 2016 and 2023. The results were clear: in places with plastic bag bans or fees, the number of bags found on the ground dropped by nearly half. That’s a big improvement and great news for the environment.

Bans, fees, and better habits

The study showed that full bans on single-use plastic bags worked well. Charging a small fee also helped, because it made people stop and think before grabbing a bag. However, rules that only banned some bags, or asked people to stop using them without a law, didn’t make much difference.

There was another important change too. In places with plastic bag bans or fees, fewer animals were found caught in plastic. The number of cases dropped by around a third. That’s a good sign that nature is being protected.

Changing a habit like using plastic bags might seem small, but it’s helping to clean up the planet one step at a time.Want to learn more? Read The Plastic Pollution Issues

Article vocabulary list

• Ban – a rule that says something is not allowed
• Fee – money you have to pay for something
• Litter – rubbish that has been thrown on the ground
• Disposable – made to be used once and then thrown away
• Tangled – twisted or stuck together in a messy way
• Habit – something you do often, usually without thinking
• Environment – the natural world, including air, water, and living things

Comprehension questions

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