Fears mount common item could be banned at all grocery stores forcing shoppers to scramble for alternative

FEARS are mounting that a common item could be banned at all grocery stores.

The end of the essential shopping essential could leave Americans scrambling for an alternative.

2

The fears have come after a proposal from Democrats in the Senate and House in March that would fundamentally change how you shop.

If passed, the resulting law would repeal a 2016 law that prevents the banning, limiting or taxing the use of plastic bags.

The law would also overturn the ban on the sale and use of plastic bags, bottles and more.

The two separate bills have been introduced by Rep. Morgan Foreman of the D-Pittsfield Township and state Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township.

The switch would bring back control to local governments when it comes to plastic bag policy.

It would also allow them to ban plastic bags and for grocery stores to stop selling them, notably.

This means that shoppers could soon be forced to look for another way to pack their groceries, maybe with the use of a reusable bag, for example.

The politicians from Lansing, Michigan believe that the change would restore local control and help efforts to stop littering.

They have also pointed out the environmental ramifications of continuing to allow plastic bags.

Foreman said earlier in April: “It is silly not to allow local governments to have control over their own regulations, especially when it comes to environmental pollution.

“Plastics are polluting our environment — we should be taking action at all levels to protect our lands and our Great Lakes.”

EVIDENCE CITED

Foreman and Shink cited a 2024 analysis from the Alliance for the Great Lakes that found 86% of litter collected on Great Lakes beaches between 2003 and 2023 was either partially or fully of made of plastic.

This primarily included plastic pieces, food wrappers, bags, bottles and caps.

The Michigan lawmakers also highlighted one major concern, that plastic waste an break down into microplastics and contaminate drinking water supplies.

If this was to happen in the Great Lakes, something that Foreman pointed out, it could spell disaster for millions.

The Great Lakes provides drinking water to 40 million people, according to Alliance for the Great Lakes.

The 2016 that Foreman and Shink are trying to overturn was passed by a Republican majority, forbidding local governments from banning or limiting the sale of plastic bags.

The bags were specifically referred to as “auxiliary containers”, a term which encompasses bags, bottles, cups or other packaging.

They are often made of materials like plastic and aluminium.

POLICY PUSHBACK

There has been some pushback to the proposal, with some claiming that it would make it harder for retail stores to navigate the different local regulations that could come up in any given state.

But Shink doubled down on the idea.

She said: “Before 2016, local governments were allowed to make decisions about one-time use plastics in their communities.

“My legislation gives back power to local communities to make their own decisions about how best to deal with plastics — especially bags — that are trashing our spaces.

“When we return decision-making power to the people, then communities can do what is right for them.”

Shink’s bill was introduced March 20 with six Democratic co-sponsors and was referred to the Senate Energy And Environment Committee for consideration.

Foreman’s bill came five days later with 16 Democratic co-sponsors, and has been referred to House Regulatory Reform Committee.

Given that Republicans hold the majority in the state House, it remains to be seen how much support the proposals will receive.

2