Abstract:
On September 1, 2009, North Carolina enacted a new state law banning plastic bags from many retailers on the Outer Banks in a pilot program that may expand to the entire state. The law requires retailers to stop giving out plastic bags, and instead offer customers recycled paper bags and incentives for them to bring in their own reusable bags. As the Outer Banks implement the new system, they are finding that paper bags are more expensive and may be less environmentally desirable than plastic bags.