[Paraphrased] The issue of plastic bag litter is leading to more discussions about banning plastic bags. However, people have different opinions on whether this is a good idea. A study was done by reading a lot of articles to see the good and bad points of banning plastic bags. The study shows that banning plastic bags hasn’t been very successful. This is because there aren’t good alternatives to plastic bags, it’s hard for governments to check if people are following the ban, and there’s a “black market” for plastic bags. Also, the companies that make plastic bags are very powerful and sometimes try to say it’s the shoppers’ fault, not theirs. The study suggests we need a big plan for the whole world to handle the problem of plastic bags. This plan should look at all kinds of plastic, like straws, foam plastics, bottles, and caps, not just shopping bags. Most research says that plastic shopping bags won’t stop being used soon because they are really useful. So, the study recommends finding ways to make and use plastic bags without harming the environment, like recycling. The study also says that letting communities and people choose to help the environment themselves might work better than just banning plastic bags. In places like Finland, this has helped people learn how to take care of the environment. — Waste Management & Research, March 2022