Hawaii just became the first state in the U.S. to completely ban plastic bags from being distributed at grocery store check-outs. California attempted to pass a similar ban that's now being delayed, and at least 132 cities in 18 states have banned plastic shopping bags. The U.S. is late to this party -- the whole EU, China, India, Australia, Rwanda, and many other countries have already instituted full-on bans on plastic bags. Plastics have a huge environmental cost, and this is one simple step we
you about a specific ecological crisis in which I believe you could help solve: plastic bag pollution. It has come to my attention that plastic bag pollution is becoming more and more of a big deal not just in my town, but throughout the entire world. Plastic bags are so lightweight and small that the majority of people around the world would more than likely not view this situation as a big deal. Although, plastic bags are made out of various toxic chemicals, which contaminate the earth and threat
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
the environment and we do not realize it. New laws that are passing and educating people will help a lot. People are being educated on how to use less water, use our cars less, how to use less energy, and even taking reusable bags when going grocery shopping because plastic bags are very bad for the environment. There are simple solutions that can help in getting started with these efforts. Every little step and effort we make in our daily routines count. Behavior
Plastic bags are used around the world by the billions. Approximately 380 billion plastic bags are used in the Unite States alone every year. In the city of Brownsville the plastic ban ordinance became effective on January 5, 2011. Therefore according to former Mayor Pat Ahumada, the ban has eliminated 350,000 bags per day. The litter problem resulting from plastic bag usage is becoming increasingly difficult and has costly negative consequences. Therefore, with the information and research obtained
There’s a lot of discussion about the issue of climate change which can make people feel like their actions to stop it are useless, but there is hope for the future. Young people today, such as college students, are very busy and have other things on their minds. However, there are simple ways to make a difference that could even save you money. Stopping climate change doesn’t need drastic changes to one’s daily routine or even help from the government because if everyone does something small
everything made “disposable” so there’s no fuss with washing dishes, you are left with the simplicity of a complex material: plastic. It is mass produced and sold cheap, yet the cost is unfathomable. Convenience has been more of a hinderance than a help for our culture - more specifically, the American culture. Americans have become an obese and lazy population, our own fault. Plastic is a convenience that has made fast food prices drop; in the interest of the economic equilibrium, with such a high demand
Plastic Bags On the month of March of 2013, the House Committee of Urban Affairs had proposed the bill HB 2416 that requires for retailers whom use plastic bags when doing check-outs to have the plastic bags be charged a fee or simply to not use any plastic bags. The policy issue of having a ban towards plastic bags is important for many reasons, they are wrecking the environment and costing hundreds and thousands of dollars in the process. According to the Corpus Christi Plastic Bag Ordinance (2012)
increase generation of plastic waste in the world. According to the United Nations Environmental programme (UNEP) (2009), the world’s plastic consumption today has increased to 100 million tons as compared to 5 million tons in 1950s. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) (2008), every year Americans use and dispose of 100 billion plastic shopping bags that generates tons of waste. Similarly, Australia use 3.92 billion plastic bags and about 3.76 billion bags (20,700 tons) are disposed
A plastic shopping bag, the most known used product discovered by man. Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year (National Geographic News, 2006). As the number of usage increases, the rate of plastic pollution grows eventually to be an immeasurable environmental obstacle that is difficult to control. This essay will unfold the case of plastic bags to identify the outcomes
Consumers worldwide use 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags per year (Greenwire). Plastic bags are loved by many because of their convenience. They are thin, almost weightless, bags that almost every store provides to carry purchases. Consumers enjoy plastic bags to paper and reusable because they are resistant to moisture and can be reused for many purposes, but many are ignorant of the harm plastic bags to the environment. Although the plastic bags are being reused for several other purposes they
would be plastic bags, food cans, fishing lines, and food bags (JSPCA). The hazardous waste that ends up in their environments can trap or even kill these organisms. Fishing wire and plastic bags can do extreme harm once they find their way into the creeks, lakes, or oceans. When people leave behind their fishing wire, it can easily tangle up the birds that preside near the water. Once the birds are tangled, it is hard for them to get out and they can end up drowning in the water. Plastic bag can als
Have you ever wondered where plastic waste ends up? Have you ever thought about the consequences of plastic waste? What are the purposes of plastic? Although plastic is good for convenient uses, long term uses, and economic purposes, the damages plastic can cause are by far way more harmful than imaginable. Plastic is wasted just as much, if not more, than used, plastic is an imminent threat to the water life ecosystem, and plastic is also not biodegradable. Most people, like myself, have never really
Stopping the Many Negative Effects Caused by Plastic Waste. In daily life, people use a lot of plastic which is a polymeric material that is used in products, such as bottles, trash bags, plastic crockeries, and many more. At any given moment, it is obvious that most things around us are made of plastic including, dishes, carrier bags and twist ties. While using these products, people do not have the slightest idea if these plastic products impact the environment, where they come from, where they
Using plastic bags were something everyone feels bad using. We use them everyday in some form or another, but we tend to forget the bad that they do. Plastic bags should not be used or allowed in the U.S because it tends to do more harm than good in our society or world. Plastic bags are harmful to our environment specifically towards animals. Thousands and thousands or plastic bags are found in the ocean, Using source C we see that plastic bags ranks at number four for kinds of debris found by the
Next we passed the bags down in a line to start filling the empty shelves. I remember all the shelves in the pantry being vacant before we got there. After lots of lifting, passing, and carrying, all the groceries finally overflowed the shelves. Our work there was finally
society, plastic bags are used everywhere because of their convenience, low cost, and durability. People use plastic bags daily by simply going to the grocery store, using the bags as a handy trash bag, or by picking up the disposables left by their pets. However, the use of plastic bags has contributed to multiple environmental and health problems. Although many believe plastic bags are easy and affordable to use for everyday needs, we need incentives for limiting the use of plastic bags in our community
Millions of plastic bags are given out to consumers by supermarkets and stores to carry their goods in. They are also cheap, light, durable, easy to carry and in many cases, free. The most commonly used shopping bag is made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This type is used in the majority of supermarkets and stores. After these bags are used, they often end up in landfills or as litter, roughly only three percent of plastic bags is actually recycled per year (Planet Ark, 2011). The materials
Plastic bags are the leading visible signs of the pollution that extends across our planet. It is actually a rare chance to ascertain a strip of road, watercourse bank or ocean front that doesn't have a couple of plastic bags littering the locale. The creation of every new bag means that slightly a lot of addition of damage to the environment daily. Bhutan first banned in use of plastic bags in 1999. This was reinforced in 2005, and again in 2009 as Plastic bag poses an excellent threat to the environment
of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastic bags,” inscribed David Barnes, the lead author and researcher at the British Antarctic Survey. This statement is unquestionably true. Around five hundred billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, and nineteen billion used in California. That’s roughly five hundred and fifty two per person; enough to stretch around the globe over two hundred and fifty times! Plastic bags have molded our communities in many ways making life easier;