Questioing simple @#$%

My English class watched a video last Thursday concerning the ridiculous amount of plastic waste that is accumulating on the planet. Here on Maui, I see it everyday. For example: If you drive on the road past the island refuse area you will see plenty of plastic bags caught in the tree's branches lining the road. These are just a few of the"lucky" bags that happen to get caught in the trees. Seeing these, you know that the rest of the bags that don't get caught in the branches blow their way into the ocean: Awesome. When I go to the Grocery store to pick up a six-pack of beer the cashiers insist that the six-pack is put into a plastic bag. When I try to fight them on this, saying I don't want one, I am informed that it is state law that the beer is put into a bag, even though its already in a carrying container. Shouldn't Hawaii's government be making laws that helps stop its pollution instead of helping create it?