People were trashing the beach long before bag bans. Even when they had ample access to plastic bags in every size, people would elect to leave their garbage on the beach because they just don't care enough to pick it up and bring it to a garbage can 20 yards away.
It took enforcement of carry-in/carry-out policies with tickets to make some progress on that. Possibly getting fined and having to go to court for littering or illegal dumping changes behavior.
Source: I live on the beach in a place where a bag ban went through.
"It took enforcement of carry-in/carry-out policies with tickets to make some progress on that."
Not only do we need heavy fines to deter these sloppy morons but we also need to develop a culture of shame. Shaming people for such cretinous behavior ought to be the norm.
These are the same people who drop things in a supermarket and don't bother to pick them up or change their mind and leave goods at any place instead of putting them back where they belong.
> Not only do we need heavy fines to deter these sloppy morons but we also need to develop a culture of shame. Shaming people for such cretinous behavior ought to be the norm.
I think one of the primary issues comes from the fact that the majority of those who litter are just visiting the beach for a day trip or short vacation.
Even being known as the guy who kicks puppies wouldn't really matter to tourists since they won't come back or only visit once a year.
It took enforcement of carry-in/carry-out policies with tickets to make some progress on that. Possibly getting fined and having to go to court for littering or illegal dumping changes behavior.
Source: I live on the beach in a place where a bag ban went through.