Living in LA, I've found that there are so many annoying things about living in California these days.

Higher apartment rents, living costs, crazy gas prices due to the war in Iran, and the already high sales tax—it's all frustrating.

As someone once said, at least California has nice weather, right?

So, even though it's inconvenient and expensive, I try to endure it, but when I go to another state and think, "Wait, this is possible?" I can't help but feel a sense of reality check.

Recently, while visiting Las Vegas, I saw a Walmart employee putting items into plastic bags at the checkout, and it made me think.

"Why is this convenient option banned in California, making life harder for people?"

Because I live in California, I have to carry an eco-bag, and if I forget it, I have to buy a paper bag for 10 cents at the market. How long will this continue?

The Gap Between Ideal and Reality: The Trap of 'Eco'

California, including LA, has been pushing a strong ban on plastic bags for a long time.

The 'State Assembly Bill 270 (SB 270)', which was passed in 2014 after many twists and turns, is the main culprit.

Initially, the justification sounded quite plausible. It aimed to reduce ocean pollution, protect marine life, and decrease plastic waste, making it hard to oppose.

Everyone nodded in agreement to the government's bold declaration to eliminate thin plastic bags (LDPE) that get caught in trees and clog sewers.

But the problem always lies in 'reality.'

What residents actually faced in their daily lives was not a dramatically cleaner environment.

Every time I went shopping, I had to buy a vaguely thick plastic bag (HDPE) called a 'reusable bag.'

Every time I forgot to put my shopping bags in the car, I had to buy more, and as a result, I started accumulating a mountain of these thick plastic bags at home.

Has plastic usage really decreased? Most residents would answer, "Well, I don't know."

The Chronic Illness of the California Government: 'Showmanship' and 'Reality Insensitivity'

What's even more bitter is the California state government's unique attitude.

When creating policies, it feels like they focus more on showing how progressive and environmentally conscious they are rather than on the inconveniences caused.

Especially in a culture like LA, where people drive to do bulk shopping, this policy is truly unrealistic.

It's not structured like New York, where people walk and shop in small quantities. It's common to buy a week's worth of groceries heavily from Costco or large supermarkets.

However, the paper bags provided by the store easily tear if they get too heavy or if a frozen item leaks a little.

Just putting in a few bottles of detergent or drinks makes the handles stretch and feel unstable. The frustration of having a paper bag tear in the parking lot, causing eggs to break and milk to spill, is something only those who have experienced it can understand.

In the end, I took on the hassle of ordering reusable bags separately and keeping dozens in my trunk.

Is this really for the environment, or has it just made life unnecessarily complicated for ordinary people?

Is it really recyclable?

Moreover, knowing the truth about those thick plastic bags (HDPE) we buy at the store makes it even more disheartening.

The Supermarket's Sweet Revenue Source: Stores buy these bags for about 5 cents each and sell them to consumers for over 10 cents. This is not a tax paid to the government but goes directly into the store's profit. It's like using consumers' money to fatten the store's profits under the guise of environmental protection.

Non-recyclable 'reusable bags': If you look at the bottom of the bag, there's a clear recycling logo in the shape of arrows. However, if you put this bag in a regular curbside recycling bin in California, it becomes a hassle that needs to be manually removed from the machine.

Plastic with Nowhere to Go: According to the EPA and state agency CalRecycle, there are virtually no facilities in California that can recycle these thick plastic bags on a large scale. Ultimately, these bags also end up in landfills, becoming waste that won't decompose for hundreds of years.

Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, hygiene concerns led to a 60-day suspension of the ban, causing the culture of bringing shopping bags from home to largely disappear.

Now, the cold reality is that every time people go to the store, they are buying 'expensive thick plastic bags that aren't even recyclable' anew.

In contrast, when you visit other states like Nevada or Texas, the atmosphere is completely different. Of course, there are environmental issues there too.

But at least they don't make residents feel like they are being monitored in their everyday habits and morals.

People use plastic bags as needed and maintain convenience in their lives.

Looking at the current California government, they seem to be incredibly confident in regulating residents while failing miserably at things that deserve praise (like stabilizing prices, ensuring safety, and solving homelessness).

While residents experience a decline in their quality of life due to high taxes and heavy costs, the government always speaks grandly about how they will change the world when announcing policies.

No one opposes environmental protection itself. The issue lies in direction and realism. The priority should be on making residents' lives genuinely easier and ensuring the city is cleaner.

However, California keeps obscuring the essence by saying, "Enduring inconvenience is the duty of a progressive citizen."

The reason I felt relieved holding an ordinary plastic bag at Walmart in Las Vegas.

Why does this small comfort feel like such a 'luxury' that is so hard to enjoy in today's California?

Looking at the 10 cents that left my wallet and the torn paper bag in my trunk, I find myself questioning what true 'environmental policy' really is these days.