illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on New York Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: California's initial ban on single-use plastic bags has led to an unintended increase in plastic waste due to the widespread use of heavy-duty plastic bags that were rarely recycled
• A new bill now aims to eliminate all plastic bags from checkout lines, emphasizing the urgent need for more effective environmental legislation

🔭 The context: Despite the ban on single-use plastic bags nearly a decade ago, Californians ended up discarding more plastic bags by weight last year
• The thicker, supposedly reusable bags introduced as an alternative have not been effectively recycled, leading lawmakers to propose a more comprehensive ban

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic waste significantly impacts the environment, contributing to pollution and harming wildlife
• California's struggle with plastic bag legislation highlights the challenges of reducing plastic use and the importance of creating laws that lead to genuine environmental improvements

⏭️ What's next: If the new bill passes, it could mark a significant step towards reducing plastic waste, with implications for other states and countries
• The legislation aims to address the loopholes of the previous law and prevent the sale of billions more plastic bags before its potential implementation in 2026

💬 One quote: “It’s time for us to get rid of plastic bags altogether,” said State Senator Ben Allen, emphasizing the need for decisive action against plastic pollution.

📈 One stat: "Last year, Californians threw away more plastic bags, by weight, than when the law first passed," showcasing the failure of the initial ban to decrease plastic waste as intended.

Click for more news covering the latest on environmental sustainability