It took only weeks for coronavirus to slow decade-long efforts to curb down on single-use plastics. At the moment when environmental concerns are set to scale down the priority list, oil prices slow recycling efforts. Now recycling looks less attractive just as environmental concerns may become less of a priority.
This happens following increasing worries that reusable bags may raise coronavirus risks in stores.
While the pandemic helped justify production hikes of single-use plastics, several bans have been stopped. To seize the opportunity to make the case for more plastic, converters, in this context, have moved aggressively.
By increasing demand for disinfectants, plastics for packaging, masks and medical vests, coronavirus helped petrochemical producers. State and city officials have reversed or delayed decisions to ban single-use plastic bags in areas including Ohio, Maine and New York.
A bag ban enacted in 2016 suspended by California on April 23 for two months.
