Jobs
A plastic bag tax or ban threatens American jobs.
Nationwide, a growing number of hardworking people are employed and supported by the plastic bag industry. In this time of high unemployment, American families and businesses don't need another job-killing tax.
The Industry
- U.S. plastic bag manufacturers and recyclers support an important recycling sector and a thriving and growing industry that employs thousands of Americans.
- More than 10,000 people in the U.S. are directly employed by the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry, and thousands more are indirectly employed.
Green Technologies
- At a time of high unemployment, American plastic bag manufacturers continued to create jobs with benefits and invest in green technologies that revolutionized the plastic recycling industry.
- As a result, the United States is the world leader in plastic bag and film recycling.
- Any tax or ban would endanger plastic recyling—a quickly growing green industry—and impact our nation's global competitiveness.
Download our fact sheet about how plastic bag bans and taxes threaten jobs and hurt business.
Learn the Facts
- Studies show that taxes and bans don't keep plastic litter out of the landfill. Without plastic grocery bags, people just purchase replacement bags—often made of thicker, heavier plastic—and then send those bags to the landfill, too. More »
- Plastic bags make up a tiny fraction (less than 0.5 percent) of the municipal solid waste stream. More »
- Plastic bags are chosen by more than 90 percent of consumers at the checkout. About 9 out of every 10 consumers reuse these bags for everyday household purposes. More »