A hybrid model includes both a ban on plastic bags (or both plastic and paper) with a consumer charge for all other reusables and alternatives. While the ban eliminates the plastic bags, the charge provides the option to purchase an alternative if the consumer forgets their reusable bag, and is still a fairly effective motivator for creating the desired behavior change.

Since the hybrid is a widely accepted approach for decreasing overall single-use bag consumption and increasing reusable bag use, when choosing between a straight ban, a charge, or the hybrid approach, we suggest the hybrid because we believe it to be the most effective way to avoid a transition to other types of disposable bags.

If a hybrid-type regulation can’t be passed for any reason, a charge, ideally on all bags regardless of material composition, at the very least has a much better chance of changing consumer behavior and reducing the amount of disposable bags than just a plastic bag ban. We acknowledge that in some jurisdictions there will be obstacles to imposing a charge for various reasons in which case we believe that a ban is better than nothing.