Good Information About Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are some of the most plentiful and popular items on Earth because they are light weight, low cost and convenient. The number of plastic bags produced and the way people dispose of them threaten the Earth's environment.
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They're Everywhere
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In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that people worldwide use from 500 billion to a trillion plastic bags each year. Plastic bags are so convenient and low cost that people all over the world have incorporated them into their everyday lives.
Positives
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Compared to paper bags, plastic bags use less energy and water and produce less air pollution and solid waste. They take up less space in a landfill.
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Pollution
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Each year Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags, and many of these pollute the environment and endanger birds and animals. Plastic bags account for over 10 percent of the debris washed up on the United States' coastlines, and they have been found in Antarctica.
Photodegradation
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Plastic bags photodegrade, which means that over time they break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers. Scientists are not certain how long these toxic petro-polymers can last or how they affect the environment.
Less Plastic, More Cloth Bags
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Various campaigns are underway to reduce the use of plastic bags. Some supermarkets are voluntarily encouraging shoppers to use cloth instead of plastic bags. A few manufacturers have introduced biodegradable plastic bags.
Alternative Plastics
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The Grassroots Recycling Network works to eliminate the waste of natural and human resources, with the goal of achieving zero waste. The International Biodegradable Products Initiative promotes the use of biodegradable polymeric materials. The Film and Bag Federation is an industry group that represents the plastic film and bag industry and is developing biodegradable plastics.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit rubbish in tree image by green308 from Fotolia.com
