Everyone has heard a cashier one time or another mumble, “Paper or plastic?” as he put their groceries in a bag, but do shoppers know the effects of each vessel in which they carry their comestibles? There are many issues and benefits to both paper and plastic. The making and recycling of both paper and plastic bags can harm the environment. One must also look at the costs of making each bag. The convenience of each is also something to look at. Many people jump to conclusion that paper bags are better for the environment without knowing the facts. Since plastic bags are preferred by customers and plastic bags actually do not hurt the environment as much as paper ones do, consumers should feel at ease when choosing plastic. Plastic bags are
The misconception is that only paper can be. Plastic can be as well. Even though plastic bags can be recycled only 3 percent them are. Paper bags actually cost more to recycle than plastic. One would think that because paper is paper, it would cost little to do that. Actually according to Jane McGrath, from How Stuff Works, “Recycling a plastic bag takes 91 time less energy to recycle than a paper bag.” Plastic bags take less money to recycle. On top of that, there are many household uses for plastic bags, more so than for paper which can rip or become soiled easily. To help with recycling dilemmas, many stores offer recycle bins for plastic bags
Plastic bags are sturdier when in use. Plastic bags can be doubled up much more easily than paper bags. The handles on paper bags are terrible and often times break. Paper bags will fall apart if they get wet. Paper bags are bigger. According to Collin Dunn, a sustainability enthusiast, paper bags can hold 50 to 400 percent more, but if you fill a paper bag it becomes much too heavy for someone to carry. For people who have to climb stairs to get to their house, it is important that their load is as light as it can possibly be. Also, elderly people are too weak to carry the heavier paper bags. There are many other uses for the plastic bags once they get home. Many people use plastic bags for arts and crafts, for example at Halloween time people make ghosts to hang in their trees. Most people also save their plastic bags and use them to carry things when
“Paper or plastic?” This is often a question customers are asked at the weekly trip to the supermarket to purchase groceries to keep families fed. Adam B. Summers has created a highly plausible argument that may change customer’s answer next time. In Summers’ “Bag ban bad for freedom and environment” editorial for the San Diego Union-Tribune, he argues against the possible laws hindering Californians from using plastic bags at grocery stores. He believes they would do more harm than good, and that “a little reason and perspective is in order.” By the end of this piece the reader will likely find themselves nodding in agreement with what Summers has to say, and this isn’t just because he’s right. Summers, like any good writer, employs tactical
The article Plastic bags are Good for you, by Katherine Mangu-Ward was written to explore the pro’s and con’s of three different types of bags. Which is better between plastic, paper, or reusable bags has always been a debatable question with an opinionated answer. In the article Mangu-Ward characterizes the cause and effect relationships which have lead to the unpopularity of plastic bags in terms of guilt.
Every year, an estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste enters our environment, severely polluting oceans, beaches, forests, and even the towns and cities we live in. In the ocean alone, it is believed that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic pollutes the waters (“Plastic Statistics”, Ocean Crusaders).The majority of plastic pollution can be traced back to single-use items, such as grocery bags, bottles, and plastic packaging. According to United Nations Environment, “At the rate we are dumping items such as plastic bottles, bags and cups after a single use, by 2050 oceans will carry more plastic than fish…” (“UN Declares War on Ocean Plastic”, UN Environment). This pollution is a major problem and endangers not only the environment, but human
These articles suggest that plastic bags should not be banned because there are other solutions to the problem. “Why Should We Not Ban Plastic Bags” states that plastic bags are a very small problem compared to all other environmental problems that the world faces, and therefore, passing legislation on the use of plastic bags would be a waste of time and would not make a very large impact. Environmentalists instead prefer to spend their money and efforts on educating people and urging them to change their habits. This article also suggests that some people may see their lack of using plastic bags as their environmentally-friendly contribution to the world and will therefore overlook the larger issues at hand. “Plastic Bags Should Be Managed, Not Banned” examines how other countries are reacting to the plastic bag epidemic. China and Taiwan, for example, have begun imposing heavy fines on citizens that violate bans on plastic bags. Some countries have turned to biodegradable bags as a solution. These solutions, however, do not solve the issue according to this article. This article suggests a behavioral change, rather than a legislative change. Citizens are ignorant in the sense that they do not know how or where to properly dispose of these bags, and this article also suggests that placing a ban on plastic bags will be detrimental to the economy of the plastic industry. This article suggests better environmental education and management as a key solution to this
A new proposal has surfaced: A small tax on plastic grocery bags. This proposed fee would add a 25¢ fee per grocery bag to your grocery bill. Some supporters of this tax say that it will help reduce the usage of non-reusable grocery bags and help keep our water cleaner. However, opponents of the tax argue that it will make groceries not affordable for some, and that reusable grocery bags are health hazard as well.
When the plastic material was first invented in the 60’s, I think people had no idea what’s going to happen a couple years later. While wood, paper and some other materials just decay or decompose, plastic materials do not. They persist for much longer. Imagine using some plastic bottle for about one minute and then throw it away. Now imagine thousands of people who do it right now, during this minute.
In conclusion, humans need to realize the benefits of recycling plastic bags can do for the environment because with recycling, we can clean up parks, roadsides, parking lots and many more other places that has a massive amount of litter. This will also have an enormous impact on future generations, thus to the fact that we can decrease pollution by just charging ten extra cents for plastic bags. Furthermore, plastic bags are unnecessary because humans can just purchase a reusable bag instead of using toxic
When most people hear the word recycling they think of plastic water bottles, milk jugs, or even old paper that they can reuse, but this is not necessarily the case anymore. Scientists and researchers have discovered a new form of recycling that is going to help better the environment and it can even help make people money! Smokers around the world do not think about recycling their used cigarette butts, but this new form of recycling has changed some of their minds on this subject. Recycling has been a major environmental issue, but most people have forgotten about it or they just do not care for it anymore. Paper recycling dates back to as far as 400 B.C. Some people even say that the early Romans recycled their bronze coins so that they
Lots of recycled products are less expensive than brand new ones. Buying cans, bottles, paper, and some clothing items made from recycled goods are all potential ways to save you money. People can use their recycled items. People can use their recycled paper to make pencil which saves money. When people make paper it cost $25,000 dollars a month. If people use recycled paper, then it won't even cost about $100. The benefit in cost per can in terms of savings is so low that it's quite insignificant. On another level, the savings in terms of energy required in making a new can from scratch as compared to making it from an existing can is tremendous. The cost of aluminum would be high if people did not recycle it. Metals like copper, iron, and steel can also be recycled. Scrap bits of metal can be brought to a scrap dealer who will pay cash for the metal. Automobile manufacturers get good money for scrap metal too. Some people think that recycling is a great way to save
one can reuse nearly anything from paper bags and newspapers to even motor vehicle. by doing so, humans can help in decreasing landfills. Try to use the unnecessary things into some other casing but, simply don't discard them. Reduce your need to purchase new items or utilize less, bringing about a littler measure of waste. Regardless of the possibility that you have to purchase, consider purchasing eco-friendly
Plastic and paper are two of the most used items in the entire world, and, conveniently, they are the most commonly found items. Some people may take the idea that one person can make a small difference a little too literally. they may think that one little piece of a cigarette butt or a candy wrappers won't make a difference in protecting our world; however, if everyone thinks that way, each piece of litter thrown will take us one step closer to the pollution of our
Plastic or paper, is a choice that people face when going to the grocery stores. Plastic bags are often the choice that is made. A controversial issue in the world today is the use of plastic bags. Plastic bags are used because of the convenience they give, by being able to carry several items at once. However, in the article, “Banning Bans, Not Bags”, Jennifer Schultz claims, “Plastic bags clog up local waterways, litter roadways, and get swallowed up by unsuspecting fish” (6). Plastic bags are used once, then are discarded or, littered all over the place. When they are littered all over they become problems for more than just humans. These plastic bags pose a big hazard for animals on land and in especially the ocean. Humans eat land and
This essay will discuss the various harmful effects of plastic bags, and demonstrate the risks that these bags impose on humans, animals, and the environment. It will also discuss a series of suggested solutions that could help reduce plastic bag usage. Although plastic bags appear to be fragile and light, their negative environmental effect is devastating. Plastic bags may cause large amounts of pollution at every step of their limited life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, production, transportation, and recycling or disposal. Plastic bags can be defined as the most damaging form of environmental pollution.
Plastic on the other hand, can be dried once it gotten wet so it can be used again. Second, plastic bags are more durable compared to paper bags. If a person would carry heavy materials in a paper bag, it is more likely to be broken than plastics. Third, most plastics are easier to carry because of its handle that makes it more convenient for people to carry while going to a market. Paper bags on the other hand, have handles that are easily torn so people have to carry it with both
One reason is that recycling can help save the earth from waste and trash build-up. For example, fifty percent of roofing and construction on houses is made from recycled aluminum cans. Using recycled materials to produce new products costs less money and less energy than new materials. It can also save valuable landfill space. People have trash everyday. Pretty much anything is recyclable. If you throw them away, it?s a waste of natural resources, a waste of energy, and a waste of money. Instead people should take the time collect these things and put some effort into helping in the world we live in.