argumentative essay on plastic bags should be banned

Should Plastic be Banned Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on should plastic be banned.

Plastic bags are a major cause of environmental pollutio n. Plastic as a substance is non-biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become very essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin our planet completely. Many countries around the globe have either put a ban on the plastic bag or Levi tax on it. However, the problem hasn’t been solved completely because the implementation of these measures hasn’t been as successful.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

Non-Biodegradable

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Thus, disposing of the plastics is the biggest challenge. T

Deterioration of Environment

They are destroying nature due to their harmful effect. Plastic bags have become the main cause of land pollution today. The plastic bags entering into the water bodies are a major cause of water pollution . Hence we can conclude that these are deteriorating our environment in every possible way.

Harmful for Animals and Marine Creatures

Animals and marine creatures unknowingly consume plastic particles along with their food. Research shows that waste plastic bags have been a major reason for untimely animal deaths.

Cause of Illness in Humans

The production of plastic bags releases toxic chemicals. These are the main cause of serious illness. The polluted environment is a major reason for various diseases which are spreading easily in human beings.

Clogged Sewage

Waste plastic bags are the main reason for trapping the drains and sewers, especially during rains. This can result in a flood-like situation and disrupt the normal life of people.

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Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

There are numerous reasons why the government of various countries has come up with strict measures to limit the use of plastic bags. Some of these include:

• Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely.
• Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water.
• Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile.
• Plastic bags are having a negative impact on human health.
• Plastic bags lead to the drainage problem.

Public Support for Plastic Bag Ban

Although the Indian government has imposed a ban on the usage of plastic bags in many states. But people are still carrying these bags. Shopkeepers stop providing plastic bags for few days only in the beginning.

It is time when we all must contribute our bit to make this ban a success. Thus we the educated lot of society must take it as our responsibility to stop using plastic bags. In this way, we can support the government in this campaign.

Some contributions that can be made by people are as follows:

In order to be successful in this mission, we must keep reminding ourselves about the harmful effects of the plastic bags on our nature and keep a tab on their use. Gradually, we will become habitual to doing without these bags.

Seek Alternatives

There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags like reusable jute or cloth bag.

We must reuse the plastic bags we already have at home as many times as we can before throwing them away.

Spread Awareness

While the government is spreading awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags, we can also spread awareness through word of mouth.

Although plastic is becoming a big threat for all of us, still this problem has often been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. Besides all of these people keep using bags due to their convenience. But now everyone has to completely stop using the plastic bag to save our environment and earth.

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Just a Few Choice Arguments as to Why Plastic Should be Banned

Plastic bags have already been banned in many places, but some argue that plastics themselves should be entirely abolished.

Oct. 22 2020, Updated 5:16 p.m. ET

In terms of recycling, the world is in a much better place than it was a few decades ago. Plastic bags have already been banned in many cities, counties, and countries the world over. Recycled plastic is being used to make just about everything you could imagine. Toys, bottles, tumblers, cutlery, and even a few recycling bins are just the beginning of what we can do with recycled plastic. 

Unfortunately, recycling and repurposing the plastic is like putting a Band-Aid on a wound that already needed stitches to begin with. Plastics are everywhere, and while some, like those used for cars or appliances, are a necessary evil, many can be completely eliminated; that’s the argument at least. But how feasible is this solution and why are plastics so bad in the first place?

Why is plastic bad for the environment?

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Made from petroleum products, Baekland’s “ bakelite ” plastic was a revolutionary material. It was lightweight, could withstand heat and cold, could hold up over time, and best of all, it was cheap and easy to mass-produce. Baekland couldn’t have anticipated that plastic’s long-term durability would end up making so detrimental and dangerous for the environment. 

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. When it does break down — after a very long time, mind you — it turns into harmful nodules of microplasti c. These microplastic motes find their way into waterways, where they are digested by other creatures, including humans. They sit in the gut, piling up and leeching harmful elements into the body. 

Why is plastic bad for humans?

On top of being a pollutant, plastic is known to emit some radiation, and there are theories that some plastic water bottles are carcinogenic if used over time. This means that even using a reusable plastic water bottle isn’t a great idea either. If plastic is so bad for people and so bad for the environment, why are we still using it? 

Plastic’s highly-disposable nature is part of the problem as well. We can use a bottle of Gatorade for a few minutes and throw the bottle away when we’re done. It’s too easy and it always has been. It was only when we finally started to see the piles of plastic growing around us, piling up in landfills, and taking up huge swaths of the Pacific Ocean , that we decided something should be done. 

Can plastic really be recycled?

Plastic can and has been recycled for decades now, but there are some experts who think that even this isn’t such a good idea. First of all, not all plastic can be recycled . Only certain types, used for certain purposes can be reused and repurposed. When we do recycle plastic, melting it down in order to reprocess it can send harmful burning plastic smoke into the atmosphere. And frankly, we have enough problems with our atmosphere as it is. 

Recycling can also be logistically and financially difficult. Plastic recycling requires specialized equipment that is not readily available. Recycling plants require energy to run and people to man them. And unlike plastic production, which is cheap and easily handled after so much practice, recycling offers far less return on investment for businesses. Thus, it’s not nearly as popular as it should be. Not to mention, only about 9 percent of plastic actually gets recycled .

Should plastic be banned?

Based on the convenience and necessity of plastic, there is little chance of any government or organization outright banning it. People wouldn’t allow it. We’ve all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. The alternatives aren't well-known either, and that presents a problem in delivering a coherent message to the general public. However, there are several solutions that might make regulating plastic a bit easier. 

How can we ban plastic?

The first thing we could do is tax it. This has already been done with disposable grocery bags in some places, where many people are just not willing to pay an extra 10 cents for a plastic bag. That adds up over time. Of course, many consumers have rolled over in favor of convenience, plastic’s most staunch advocate. Recycling can only go so far as we discussed, but it is an option — though there's not much to do about non-recyclable plastics. 

Banning single-use plastics is the only true way to do it. Bags were a good start, but bottles, cups, straws, and cutlery will be a harder sell. This is especially true for small businesses and chains who rely on low-cost options to serve and sell their wares. In the end, allowances will always have to be considered. Unfortunately, until everyone is on board, plastics will remain an innocuous, yet destructive piece of our daily lives. 

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• Should Plastic be Banned

Essay on Plastic Ban: Why We Must Ban Plastic

Plastic bags, made of stable organic polymers, pose a significant threat to the environment. These long chains of carbon atoms are chemically stable, making them resistant to environmental breakdown. Despite their industrial importance and affordability, the environmental impact of plastic bags is becoming evident.

The non-degradable waste from years of plastic use is now causing pollution in the air, water, soil, and every part of nature. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to land and water pollution globally. The excessive use of plastics introduces them into our food chain, posing health risks such as organ failure and respiratory distress.

Animals, both on land and in water, unknowingly consume plastic, leading to blockages and respiratory failure. Marine animals often die from entanglement in plastic waste. Additionally, plastic bags accumulate in waterways, clogging drains and sewers, resulting in disease vectors and reduced oxygen supply to aquatic animals.

Efforts to tax plastic use have been ineffective. However, before banning plastics, suitable replacements must be available to avoid inconvenience. The urgency to save our planet, our only home, calls for a global ban on plastic bags.

The pervasive use of plastic, while convenient and durable, has unleashed a hidden monster - plastic pollution. This threat affects every corner of the planet, endangering life on land and in water. Banning single-use plastics is crucial for a healthier planet and a brighter future.

Plastic pollution extends to our oceans, with an estimated 8 million tons entering annually. Gyres of plastic debris harm marine life, suffocating sea turtles and posing threats to entire ecosystems. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch serves as a stark reminder of the uncontrolled plastic plague.

The impact on land is equally alarming, with plastic bags causing floods, contaminating the food chain with microplastics, and overflowing landfills. The health risks to humans include disruptions to the endocrine system and potential long-term consequences from exposure to microplastics.

To combat plastic pollution, a multi-pronged approach is needed. Banning single-use plastics, promoting responsible production and disposal, and investing in alternatives are crucial steps. This crisis presents an opportunity for collective action, innovation, and a shift towards a circular economy.

The fight against single-use plastic is not just an environmental crusade but a battle for the health and future of our planet. It requires a shift towards responsible use, mindful disposal, and a commitment to a future where convenience does not harm the planet. By embracing the ban on single-use plastics, we pave the way for a healthier planet and a testament to human ingenuity and environmental stewardship.

Towards a Plastic-Free Tomorrow

Imagine a world where beautiful beaches invite you with golden sands, not piles of plastic. Coral reefs thrive with life, free from plastic's suffocating hold. Clean air fills our lungs, untouched by the fumes of burning plastic. This isn't a far-off dream; it's a possible future if we take action.

A plastic ban isn't a fight against convenience; it's a necessary shift for a sustainable future. It's a call to embrace responsibility, innovation, and deep respect for our shared planet. Let's meet this challenge, break free from plastic's grasp, and reclaim a future where life unfolds in vibrant, unspoiled glory.

The plastic crisis isn't a distant threat; it's a fire at our doorstep. A plastic ban might seem drastic, but it's the necessary action we need. By prioritizing our planet's health and our well-being, we can pave the way for a plastic-free future. It's not just about inconvenience; it's about reclaiming our future, one reusable bag, one biodegradable choice at a time.

FAQs on Should Plastic be Banned

1. Are plastic bags a boon for nature or a curse?

Plastic bags are small and lightweight, making them easy to transport.

This may appear to be a blessing to us, but there is another side to the coin.

Because they are light, they are easily carried away by the wind and water.

As a result, they end up in seas and oceans, polluting them. Furthermore, they become tangled in fences and trash our landscapes when carried away by the wind.

The ingredient used to produce plastic bags is polypropylene, which is why they are so long-lasting.

This polypropylene, on the other hand, is made from natural gas and petroleum, and it is non-biodegradable.

There is a common misperception that recycling is a better option than using plastic bags. This eventually compels the producers to produce more, and the process repeats itself with a tiny modification in the number of units produced.

Plastic bags are damaging to human health, even though they are one of the most practical bags for carrying lots of things.

2. How to minimize the use of plastic?

Plastic bag-related hazards are frequently disregarded and underestimated.

This is because individuals do not consider the long-term consequences of the compact, easy-to-carry bags they use on a daily basis.

Plastic bags have been banned in a number of several throughout the world.

In many Indian states, the use of plastic bags has also been limited by the government.

To ensure that the usage of these bags is prohibited, the government must take stringent measures. There needs to be a complete ban on the production of plastic bags.

Retailers must also be penalized if they offer plastic bags.

Those who are caught carrying plastic bags should be penalized as well.

3. Why should plastic be banned?

There are a variety of reasons why governments around the world have enacted tough regulations to limit the use of plastic bags. Here are a few reasons

Plastic bags that have been discarded are heavily damaging the land and water.

Plastic bags have become a hazard to the lives of both terrestrial and aquatic species.

Waste plastic bags emit chemicals into the soil, rendering it infertile.

The use of plastic bags has a harmful influence on human health.

The drainage issue is caused by plastic bags

4. What problems are caused by plastics?

Here are some of the issues that plastic bags cause:

Non-Biodegradable- Plastic bags do not decompose. As a result, disposing of plastics is the most difficult task.

Environmental Degradation- They are destroying nature as a result of their negative impact. Today, plastic bags are the leading cause of land pollution. Plastic bags that end up in aquatic bodies are a major source of pollution. As a result, we may conclude that these are wreaking havoc on our ecosystem in every manner possible.

Animals and Marine Creatures are Harmed- Plastic particles are inadvertently consumed by animals and aquatic species. According to research, waste plastic bags are a major cause of untimely animal fatalities.

Illness in Humans- Toxic chemicals are released during the manufacture of plastic bags. These are the leading causes of death. The polluted environment is a key cause of a variety of diseases that are easily spread among humans.

Sewage Back-Up- The biggest cause of drain and sewage blockages, especially during rainstorms, is waste plastic bags. This could result in a flood-like situation, disrupting people's daily lives.

5. Does plastic cause pollution?

Yes, plastic causes pollution. Plastic bags are a key source of plastic pollution, a type of waste that is wreaking havoc on our ecosystem. It poses a threat to human life on the planet. To decrease pollution, plastic bags must be prohibited. Plastic bags pollute the environment, the air, and the water. This is why they have been outlawed in a number several. However, they are still widely used in most parts of the world, and they are proving to be environmentally hazardous.

6. Are Plastic Bags Banned in India?

In October 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a nationwide ban on single-use plastic which is used for carrying food for eating or drinking cups that is discarded immediately after one use was put into effect so as to achieve the goal to make India plastic-free by 2022. As this kind of plastic is not easily recyclable it is a great way to conserve nature.

7. What are the Alternatives to Plastic?

As of now till there are other options one can use paper bags or cotton bags, these are easily available and can also be easily hand-made. The material is so good that it lasts a long time and doesn’t get damaged easily and when dumped is decomposed easily as it is made of biodegradable and renewable sources.

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Should Plastic Bags Be Banned Everywhere?

New York has a new law that bans most single-use plastic bags like the ones found in grocery stores, drugstores and boutiques. Do you think all communities should do the same?

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By Shannon Doyne

Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

When you buy something in a store, do you rely on the store’s plastic bags to get your items home? Or do you bring your own reusable bag — or just skip the bag entirely? For residents of New York state, the store-provided plastic bag won’t be an option any more as of March 1.

What do you think about New York’s new law? Is something similar in effect where you live? If not, do you wish it were? Why or why not? How concerned are you about the negative environmental effects of errant bags that end up in animal habitats and landfills?

In “ Get Ready, New York: The Plastic Bag Ban Is Starting ,” Anne Barnard writes about the law and its intended outcomes:

New York is banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags statewide on Sunday, a move with the ambitious goal of reducing the billions of discarded bags that stream annually into landfills, rivers and oceans. The law forbids most businesses from handing out the thin bags that are ubiquitous in supermarkets, bodegas and boutiques, making New York the third state to bar the bags after California, where a ban has already changed the way millions of people shop, and Oregon, where one took effect last month. If successful, the transition could spur a cultural sea change as significant as the end of smoking in bars, or the shift in attitudes ushered by seatbelt laws: Once optional, buckling up is now so automatic for most people that it happens almost unconsciously. New Yorkers currently use 23 billion plastic bags each year, state officials say, many of which end up as one of the most problematic forms of garbage. They blow across streets and become caught in trees. They harm birds and marine creatures. They clog sorting machines, making recycling them cumbersome.

The article goes on to describe successes in other places that have worked to decrease the use of plastic bags:

Measures in other countries and localities have significantly reduced plastic bag use, and a study in Washington found a 5-cent bag fee there had cut down on plastic pollution in waterways. The laws — including a de facto ban in Hawaii, where all counties forbid such bags — also aim to address climate change by reducing the planet-warming emissions from making the petroleum-based bags. California’s ban led to a 72 percent drop in plastic bag use. Although the law passed narrowly in a referendum — and opinions on it remain divided — implementation was relatively smooth.

Not all plastic bags are subject to the ban:

There are exceptions to the bag ban : Plastic can be used for takeout food; uncooked meat or fish and other products that could contaminate items; weighed produce; and prescription drugs. Newspaper bags, garment bags and bags sold in bulk, like trash or recycling bags, are also exempt. Paper bags are still allowed, and local governments can impose a 5-cent fee for each one a customer takes. The cities and counties that opt in to that fee will keep 2 cents per bag to spend on programs aimed at distributing reusable bags, and the remaining 3 cents will go to New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. Customers on food stamps and public assistance will be exempt from paper-bag fees.

The article notes that the new law has some opposition:

There, of course, are skeptics of the plastic ban, especially in New York City, where most people do not drive to supermarkets and shops. A bedrock feature of life in the city is running errands on the spur of the moment, or making impulse buys while walking or using public transportation. “This is going to be the worst thing to happen to this store,” said Sal Husain, who manages a C-Town grocery store in the Inwood section of Manhattan. “It’s OK to protect the environment, but there’s going to be a lot of problems with customers.” …. Across the street, Fatih Demir has been selling fruits for the past 15 years from a stand pitched below a white canopy. Most of his business comes from subway riders heading to and from the A train, he said. “Our customers keep asking, ‘What’s going to happen?’” he said. “The woman who sells next to me keeps asking, ‘What’s going to happen?’ People don’t have the time to prepare for this stuff. This is America, where people most value their time.”

However, other New Yorkers have embraced the ban:

In some ways, the transition has already begun, as eco-conscious New Yorkers have voluntarily adopted reusable bags and the stores cater to them. For some shoppers and stores, bags emblazoned with slogans and images have become a fashion statement, a method of virtue signaling and even an economic opportunity. That transition was on display on Thursday in Manhattan. Some residents could be seen trying to untangle bundles of loaded plastic bags spinning between their fingers. Others gripped reusable totes with both hands or pushed hand carts stuffed with both plastic and reusable bags. Sylvie Kande, 62, of Harlem, was carrying paper bags out of a Whole Foods Market in Midtown. She said the ban was a good idea. “It’s been done already in countries all around the world, and if it’s done there, it could be done here,” Ms. Kande said. “Everybody has to make sacrifices. And I know this is much easier for the bourgeoisie than it is for the working class, and it’s going to take some time. But we have to do it. This is an important transition.”

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

To what degree do you agree with Ms. Kande who stated that no longer using single-use plastic bags is an “important transition”?

Do you think the ban will motivate shoppers to bring their own bags to stores? Do you and your family tend to use reusable bags? What are the pros and cons of embracing this practice?

Some people think that the ban will be more of a hardship on working class people — such as those who walk instead of get around in cars or those who rely on public transportation? What do you think? In light of this, should the ban be selectively enforced? Why or why not?

The article mentions that some people like plastic bags because they reuse them at home for various purposes. Does this happen in your house? If so, how are these bags used?

You read about the types of single-use bags as well as purchases that are not subject to the ban. Do you think each of these exemptions is sensible? Explain. Do the exceptions reduce the ban’s effectiveness, in your opinion?

A related interactive notes that in New York City, plastic bags “have become part of the city’s visual landscape, the kind of everyday objects so pervasive that they seem invisible.” Look at the bag designs in the collection. Do you think plastic bags tell us something about the time and place in which they are or were used? If so, what?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Should Plastic Bags Be Banned? Essay

Should plastic bags be banned for free in all 50 states and instead charge a fee for each plastic bag used at the checkout? This will be the focused research question for this essay. In contemporary settings, the need to conserve the environment holds essence to a considerable degree. Plastic bags contribute to environmental pollution significantly. Thus, the establishment of policies that seek to curb the use of such bags is essential (Ritch et al. 170). In the United States, various states consider establishing and implementing strategies to curb the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores. Several cities impose charges of up to $10 on customers using plastic bags. However, the strategy has not been effective in discouraging the utilization of environmentally unfriendly materials (Clapp and Swanston 318). Currently, several states including Arizona, Missouri, Idaho, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Utah, have tabled laws that would see the ban of plastic bags use, primarily at retail store checkouts. However, there is a need for all 50 states to prohibit the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores.

The use of plastic bags has detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic bags cause harmful consequences to forests, lakes, rivers, and oceans. The harm undermines the survival of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Usually, plastic waste finds its way to water bodies where it soaks the toxins, which are transferred to aquatic life. Besides endangering the life of aquatic creatures, the toxins have the potential of finding their way to the top of the food chain, thereby posing adverse health implications on the human population. The problem of plastic bags threatens the sustainability of the 40 billion dollar ocean economy (Clapp and Swanston 320). Further, it is costly to finance the cleanup and recycling of plastic bags conducted in the entire United States. Therefore, the need to foster the sustainability of the natural environment calls for the free ban on plastic bags used for shopping in all the 50 states.

The research seeks to advocate legislation that would see the permanent ban on the use of plastic bags when shopping in retail and grocery outlets. The current proposal also aims at underlining the essence of engaging in practices that foster environmental sustainability in the United States. The inquiry seeks to uncover the insignificance of charging shoppers who use plastic bags at the checkout. The value of the environment overrides the collected revenues. Environmental degradation has long-term implications for generations to come. Further, the ban would relieve citizens from the financial burdens incurred from the activities involved in the cleanup and recycling of plastic waste.

The following research questions would be crucial in establishing a solution to the current problem induced by the use of plastic bags when shopping.

• What are the environmentally adverse effects of using plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores in the United States?
• Does the application of charges at the checkpoints to shoppers using plastic bags contribute to the reduction of pollution caused by such materials?
• How would the ban on the usage of plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores contribute to the sustainability of the environment in the United States?

The inquiry has considerable significance on the move towards the creation of a green environment. Thus, it would be integral in promoting a collaborative approach towards fostering the sustainability of the environment. Answering the research questions would underline the relevance of the inquiry.

The study would heighten awareness regarding the harmful outcomes of using plastic bags when shopping. Uncovering the threats posed by the plastic bags would emphasize the need to protect people, plants, and animals from harm caused by the waste that is usually difficult to dispose of efficiently. The inquiry is also significant since it would inspire the importance of sustainable development in the United States’ economy.

The study is also important since it would facilitate an evaluation of the various measures implemented to discourage the use of paper bags in the United States. Notably, the charges subjected to shoppers using the bags have realized insignificant successes in combating pollution. Moreover, the inquiry is relevant since it will facilitate the implementation of a policy that will be integral in tackling contamination in contemporary settings.

The inquiry holds the belief that plastic bags account for a significant degree of pollution of the water bodies. Therefore, failure to ban the use of plastic bags is believed to undermine the sustainability of the United States’ environment. However, the study assumes that paper bags have greater adverse effects on the environment compared to plastic bags.

The primary idea of this study is to uncover the relevance of banning the use of plastic bags in the United States. However, the study is prejudiced since it treats the plastic bags as if they are the principal cause of environmental degradation in the country. The environment faces degradation threats resulting from major pollutants such as industrial wastes and toxic gas emissions.

The undertaking of the inquiry would consider the integration of mixed research design. As such, the sample population would comprise of the key stakeholders who influence the use of plastic bags for shopping purposes. The research would use non-probability sampling methods to acquire the sample population. Stakeholders including policymakers, environmental conservation experts, and shoppers would constitute the sample population.

The preliminary research reveals that several states have established policies that ban the use of plastic bags as others are on the verge of making significant progress. However, there is a need to intensify the effectiveness of such policies in the entire country as a way to combat the problem of environmental degradation. In this regard, advocacy for the banning of plastic bags should take the center-stage in all the 50 states.

The prohibition would be a significant step towards the establishment of similar policies that seek to foster environmental conservation. The cost of cleaning up and recycling plastic bags poses a sizable burden on the taxpayer. Paper bags have an adverse implication on the environment in comparison to plastic bags. Nevertheless, winning small battles is what inspires stakeholders to pursue victory in wars. Conversations are underway to establish environmental policies that will prohibit the use of plastic bags across the United States. Environmentalists from the different states are coming together to push for comprehensive policies. The objective is to ensure that no state is left behind in the endeavor to conserve the environment.

The prohibition of the use of plastic bags in shopping at retail and grocery stores can go a long way towards conserving the environment instead of imposing charges on customers who disregard the essence of considering bio-degradable bags. The problem of the use of plastic bags is serious since it has the potential of harming the health of individuals who consume aquatic foods contaminated with toxins from the plastic bags wastes. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the viability of banning plastic bags.

Works Cited

Clapp, Jennifer, and Linda Swanston. “Doing Away with Plastic Shopping Bags: International Patterns of Norm Emergence and Policy Implementation.” Environmental Politics , vol. 18, no. 3, 2009, pp. 315-332.

Ritch, Elaine, et al. “Plastic Bag Politics: Modifying Consumer Behavior for Sustainable Development.” International Journal of Consumer Studies , vol. 33, no. 2, 2009, pp. 168-174.

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Expert Commentary

The good and the bad of plastic bag bans: Research review

Government bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags have spread in recent years amid fears about plastic’s negative impact on the environment. But alternatives are not necessarily better.

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by David Trilling, The Journalist's Resource December 13, 2016

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/environment/plastic-bag-bans-grocery-shopping-environment/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

Plastic bags kill wildlife, clog waterways and pack landfills. Discarded bags can  spread malaria if   they collect rainwater, offering mosquitos a casual breeding ground. In recent years, local and national governments have begun phasing out or banning lightweight plastic shopping bags. But alternatives are not necessarily greener: People buy more plastic trash bags when shopping bags are unavailable. And a British government study found single-use paper bags contribute more toward global warming than plastic bags.

Not so straightforward:

For some activists, the effort to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags is both urgent and too late. According to a  2008 estimate in Waste Management,  people around the world discard between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags a year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  lists single-use plastic bags as a major contributor, along with food wrappers and fishing nets, to the  Great Pacific Garbage Patch  — vast, shifting waves of trash that often arrive via storm drains and rivers and can entangle marine life or be ingested . According to a 2014 estimate published in PLOS ONE , more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic (not all from bags) weighing a combined 250,000 tons are floating in the world’s oceans.

Yet substitutes also offer cause for concern. A comprehensive  2011 study by the British environmental agency argued that plastic bags are greener than many alternatives. A paper bag must be used four or more times “to reduce its global warming potential to below” that of conventional plastic bags. The reason is that paper production — from the felling of trees to the emissions  and effluent from paper factories — is dirty. The study found “no significant reuse of paper bags,” not even as trash-can liners.

Legislation:

With a referendum in November 2016, California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures, which keeps an active list  of American laws. Thicker, reusable bags are still available for purchase for 10 cents. Before California, cities often organized the bans: In 2016, for example,  Cambridge  became the first Massachusetts city to ban plastic bags altogether and require merchants to offer paper bags for a fee of no less than 10 cents. By contrast, Missouri’s legislature in 2015 forbid  cities and counties in the state from enacting plastic bag bans.

The European Union passed legislation in 2015 aiming to cut plastic bag use in half by 2019 and half again by 2025. E.U.-member France went further, banning single-use plastic bags on July 1, 2016, and phasing in other , more restrictive bans in the upcoming years – including the prohibition of plastic cooking utensils by 2020.

Do these bans work? They do appear to reduce the number of shopping bags used, but the effect on demand for (potentially pernicious) alternatives is unknown.

• Five years after Ireland instituted a 15 Euro cent levy on plastic bags in 2002 – Irish stores had been giving out 1.2 billion each year for free – a paper published in  Environmental and Resource Economics   suggested  a 90 percent reduction in use.
• One year after its ban San Jose  reported “a reduction in bag litter of approximately 89 percent in the storm drain system, 60 percent in the creeks and rivers, and 59 percent in city streets and neighborhoods.”
• Researchers at Cardiff University, in the United Kingdom, found that a fee for plastic bags introduced in October 2015 has led to a sharp decline in the number of shoppers who take single-use bags at checkout, from 25 percent to 7 percent after one year.
• China, which banned many types of plastic bags in 2008, claims some successes. But some reports suggest the rule has been difficult to enforce.

Academics have measured consumer behavior and public opinion on plastic bags in many countries, including Turkey , Uganda and Canada . A 2016 study in Social Marketing Quarterly examines how shoppers respond to different incentives for bringing their own shopping bags – such as avoiding a fee or paying a tax – and remarks “that a penalty framed as a tax may be more effective in motivating shoppers to bring reusable bags.”

“Biodegradable” plastic bags:

In 2010, raw plastics production in the U.S. used the energy and natural gas equivalent of 172 million barrels of oil,   government figures  suggest. But some newer plastics are made from vegetable matter, allowing manufacturers to claim their plastics are biodegradable. In theory, that means these plastics can be used to feed bacteria that convert them into water, carbon dioxide and biological matter. But the process rarely works in a landfill – these products need to be composted with the right microbes. When they’re not, they may not break down at all or can release methane, a greenhouse gas. So-called starch-polyester bags, made from a blend of vegetable matter and synthetic plastics, had the highest global warming impact in the  2011 study conducted by the British environmental agency “due to the high impacts of raw material production, transport and the generation of methane from landfill[s].”

The European Union hosts an online forum to discuss biodegradable plastic bags.

Researchers have looked into the policy challenges of biodegradable plastics, how they break down in the ocean and wider environmental impacts .

Our health:

Besides assuming a deviant place in marine ecosystems, there are concerns about the synthetic compounds in plastic that may be oozing into our food. One of the main building blocks of plastics, bisphenol A (also known as BPA), has been shown to stimulate breast cancer cells and damage the quality of rat sperm. Phthalates are another subject of disquiet.

Microbeads:

Another plastic causing concern is the microbeads found in some exfoliating facial scrubs and toothpastes, which are rinsed down drains into rivers, lakes and oceans . A 2015 study in the Marine Pollution Bulletin estimated that between 4,594 and 94,500 microplastic particles pass into the sewer during each use (between 16 and 86 metric tons annually in Britain alone). A forthcoming study in Chemosphere finds that microbeads do not accumulate in the gut when fed to goldfish, though both studies recognize their chemical effect in the food chain is unknown. In 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act to ban microbeads in hygienic products, though they continue to be used in other countries.

Arguments for plastic:

Proponents of plastic bags argue that they are hygienic and cheap and preserve foods that would otherwise spoil. A number of lobbies have worked to confound legislation that would reduce the availability of plastic bags. In California, for example, The Washington Pos t found that the American Progressive Bag Alliance – a Washington-based group run by a plastics lobby – spent over $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 to oppose California’s attempts then to legislate a ban.

Plasticfilmrecycling.org (a project of the American Chemistry Council ) is supported with funds from large multinationals like Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil. Some organizations – such as the Plastics Industry Association , which directs visitors to the American Progressive Bag Alliance and bagtheban.com — support recycling as a solution, rather than less plastic.

Plastic shopping bags are widely reused as trash-can liners, the British environmental agency study points out. When they are banned, the study adds, consumers purchase more plastic trash bags: “The reuse of conventional HDPE [plastic] and other lightweight carrier bags for shopping and/or as bin-liners is pivotal to their environmental performance and reuse as bin liners produces greater benefits than recycling bags.”

Anti-plastic lobbying and activism:

The California plastic bag ban received support from the California Grocers Association . Grocery stores stood to benefit because the law mandated they charge 10 cents for reusable bags.

• The American Forest and Paper Association argues for the use of paper bags and against the imposition of fees on paper bags.
• A website – plasticbaglaws.org – founded by a California lawyer who consults for activist organizations, has a number of useful links .
• The Worldwatch Institute , another nonprofit campaigner, estimates at least 267 animal species have suffered “from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris, and plastics and other synthetic materials.”

Other resources:

• This 2011 E.U. study shows, among other things, that residents of eastern E.U. members and Portugal use the most plastic bags in the union.
• Journalist’s Resource profiled a 2016 paper on gender stereotypes and environmentally friendly behavior that found some people think recycling is feminine.
• A 2015 paper in the Journal of Marketing found that people who bring reusable grocery bags on their shopping trips may purchase more junk food.
• NOAA has fact sheets on microplastics in the ocean and plastic marine debris .

Keywords: Trash, pollution, waste, plastics, regulations, petrochemicals, chemical lobby

About The Author

David Trilling

Three reasons why banning plastic bags is problematic

Visiting Scholar, Tufts University

Disclosure statement

David D. Sussman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Tufts University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US.

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• Bahasa Indonesia

There has been a growing trend of restrictions and bans on plastic bag use worldwide. By mid-2018, over 127 countries had enacted regulations limiting their use, a more than threefold increase over the last decade.

The latest adherents are Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the second-largest polluter of plastic waste into the oceans, and Japan, which ranks second for volume of single-use plastic packaging per person. On July 1, both Jakarta and Japan banned the use of free plastic bags at checkout counters.

These recent policies in Jakarta (an outright prohibition) and Japan (a surcharge) are important steps by politicians towards shifting away from a linear economy in which resources are often used once and then discarded. They should indeed decrease the number of plastic bags that end up in landfills, clog sewer systems, spoil our landscapes, degrade into secondary microplastic pollution and kill wildlife . They may also raise environmental consciousness among consumers.

Despite the good intentions of these new rules, plastic bag bans are problematic for a few reasons.

1. They are not the largest sources of plastic pollution

Plastic waste is indeed a very serious problem. Humans use as many as 1 trillion single-use “carrier bags” , about 128 per person per year. The total for all single-use plastic is much greater, at 150 million tons per year . Think of this as 19.23kg of single-use bottles, cutlery, straws, packaging and more for every single person on the planet .

However, the latest research shows plastic bags make up only a fraction of marine debris in the waters of Greater Jakarta. Thin or thick plastic wraps and sacks constitute just over 13.5% of all debris items found and 8.5% of their weight .

In Japan, plastic shopping bags account for only about 2% of all plastic waste produced in the country.

Moreover, while plastic bags are visible to us all, we need to remember that what is in them is often more harmful to the environment than the bags themselves. For example, products with heavy plastic packaging and containers can weigh many times more than the bag. Or consider the actual items, from toxic cleaning solvents, to high-food-mile imported strawberries, to soda in an aluminium can.

2. Consumers may shift to worse alternatives

Evidence from previous plastic bag restrictions shows this does reduce their use, but sometimes leads to more environmental harm if customers switch to other materials with larger resource footprints .

Paper bags can require 400% more energy to make, not to mention the harvesting of trees and use of noxious chemicals in production . Growing cotton “requires land, huge quantities of water, chemical fertilisers and pesticides” .

Plastic bags use fossil fuels, a nonrenewable resource, and are permanent, entering the waste stream forever . They may cause more pollution on land and in waterways, but have less effect on climate change and land use than other types of bags.

Biodegradable bags, perhaps surprisingly, could be “the worst option” in terms of their impact on climate, harm to soil, water pollution and toxic emissions.

In the end, a decision on the type of bag becomes about which particular environmental issue takes priority.

3. Consumers, who feel good about not using plastic bags, may do more harm in other ways

Researchers in psychology have observed people often harm the environment when they try to save the planet. For example, they might buy more of a product, like groceries, because they are labeled as eco-friendly.

This is related to the concept of compensatory behaviour.

For example, people may feel that, since they recycle, they don’t need to consider the extra meat they ate that week. Or because they walked instead of driving to the store, they deserve to buy an extra piece of clothing.

Sometimes compensatory action takes the form of attempts to account for previous harms. For example, buying carbon offsets for flying might make a passenger feel good, but from an environmental perspective it’s less desirable than not boarding in the first place.

The point here is that reducing plastic bag use might grant people mental licence to take other actions that are more detrimental to the environment.

So where does this leave us, and what should we do?

What’s next?

Ultimately, the greatest gain from plastic bag bans and pricing is probably in shifting environmental outlooks.

Research connects charges for plastic bags to attitudinal changes among consumers , including support for additional environmental policies.

There can be broader shifts in norms, as “ the emergence around the world of an anti-plastic bag norm has been rapid and widespread ”. The hope is that increased consciousness in this part of our lives will raise awareness about environmental impacts and alter behaviour in other ways.

This leads to some insights about bags.

For example, according to the UN Environment Program, a cloth bag used between 50 and 150 times will have a lower climate impact than a single-use plastic bag.

When it comes to a plastic bag, if you want to want to halve the environmental harm, use it twice. Drop it to 25%? Use it four times. Reduce the impact by 90%? Use it ten times.

And if we do get reusable bags, we really need to re-use, re-use and re-use them. As an article in Popular Science has pointed out : “Regardless of the material, the best bags are the ones you already own.”

In the end, should plastic bag bans be banned? Not exactly, but the entire story of their effects must be more closely considered.

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Should Plastic Be Banned Essay

Governments around the world are introducing plastic bans to alleviate plastic pollution. The use of plastic has increased at such a pace that it’s time we thought of banning plastic. If we look at the current scenario, only 9% of the plastic waste generated by the world is recycled. The generated plastic waste is either disposed of in landfills or dumped into the environment. If we continue to use plastic in a similar pattern and continue the waste management practices in the same way, by 2050, around 12 billion tonnes of plastic will litter the environment and landfills. So, it’s the need of the hour that we should reduce plastic use. From this essay on “Should Plastic Be Banned”, students will get to know the damage that plastic causes to the environment and why it is essential to ban plastic items.

We have also compiled a list of CBSE Essays on different topics, which will help students to improve their essay-writing skills. So, students must go through them and practise writing essays on these topics.

Should Plastic Be Banned – 500+ Words Essay

It is impossible to imagine today’s world without plastic. Due to its versatility, affordability and durability, plastic is found in an almost infinite number of applications. It is used in clothing, machinery, construction, electronics, transportation, agriculture and packaging. Industrial plastic use began when polyethylene, a common form of plastic, was accidentally created by two chemists working at the Imperial Chemical Industries plant in 1933. Globally, over 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year and the trend is increasing.

Plastic use has become common, and it has entered into household use due to its lightweight, cheap, and easy-to-make properties. Due to these qualities, plastic is being produced and used by everyone. If this plastic trend continues, global plastic production will increase rapidly in the upcoming 10 to 15 years. In the present situation, we are unable to cope with the amount of plastic waste generated. So, we can’t imagine the situation in the upcoming years.

We don’t realise how much plastic waste we generate in our day-to-day life and how it impacts our environment. It causes numerous problems for the environment. The plastic bag litters the air and blocks the waterways and drainage system. The sewage gets clogged, due to which mosquitoes, insects and pests multiply and make the place unhygienic. Due to this, the transmission of vector-borne diseases like malaria increases. The plastic waste generated when disposed of in water bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and seas harms aquatic animals and plants. The plastic blocks the stomachs of hundreds of species and is ingested by animals such as cows, dogs, turtles and dolphins, who mistake them for food. The toxic chemicals which are used during the manufacture of plastic get transferred to animal tissue when they consume and eventually enter the human food chain. These chemicals damage the lungs, nervous system and reproductive organs. Most of the time, we prefer to burn plastic waste as the convenient option of disposing of it. But, plastic waste, when burned in the air, releases harmful gases which contribute to air pollution. Thus, it’s crucial that we rethink the way plastic is manufactured, used and managed.

We have all contributed to this problem, knowingly and unknowingly and must work to reduce and eliminate plastic pollution. In India, the Government has decided to take the plastic ban as a national-level campaign to address the environmental hazards that are caused by the use of plastic. So, there is a need to actively contribute to the effort of banning the use of plastics. Ultimately, tackling this problem will require everyone’s support. It will be possible only with the concerted efforts of the government, businesses, and individuals.

Students must have found the “Should Plastic Be Banned Essay” useful for improving their essay writing skills. They can get the study material and the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

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Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned

List of essays on why plastic bags should be banned in english, short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – essay 1 (100 words), short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – essay 2 (250 words), essay on why plastic bags should not be banned – essay 3 (250 words), essay on why plastic bags should be banned: pros and cons – essay 4 (300 words), essay on why plastic bags should be banned: harmful effects of plastic – essay 5 (300 words), essay on why should plastic bags be banned – essay 6 (400 words), short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – essay 7 (500 words), essay on plastic bags – a boon or a curse – essay 8 (750 words), long essay on why plastic bags should be banned – essay 9 (1000 words).

The students should, therefore, learn how they are made and why is it necessary to ban them? It is very important keeping in mind the ever-increasing global warming and environmental pollution. These short essays for students shall motivate them to discard the use of plastic bags altogether and they shall, in fact, be able to guide others as well.

Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned: Read 5 Selected Essays on Plastic Bags: Pros, Cons, Harmful Effects and Impact of Plastic Bags on Environment.

The ban on plastic bags does not necessarily mean that its use will cease. The ban is only to control individual use of plastic bags because people are irresponsible when it comes to disposal thus causing environmental pollution. As plastic bags are not disposed properly, they degrade the quality of the soil, thus causing soil pollution. This makes the soil infertile and hence affects agriculture. So plastic bags needs to be banned to save soil and ultimately the environment. The ban will regulate the distribution of plastic bags only to heavy duty use and at a fee.

Ban on plastic bags

A lot of people do not know but there are several states that have imposed ban on plastic bags. Different states came up with different laws at varying point of time. However, what is pitiable is the fact that ever since ban on plastic bags were introduced; most shopping stores ended up making these bags chargeable. Their use didn’t decline just that, companies were now making money out of it.

What is to be done?

This brings us to the question as to what is to be done as far as ban on plastic bags is concerned. Keeping in mind the sad state of the environment and the kind of risk we have imposed, the right measures need to be taken at the earliest.

The basic information

First of all, people need to be educated about why they should steer away from the use of plastic. It is only when people truly understand as to how the use of plastic ends up creating damage to the environment which may jeopardize their life or those of the future generation, they may be inclined to do their bit and follow the ban on plastic bags seriously.

Offer alternatives

Further, when the states impose ban on plastic bags, it is important to offer other recycled products and paper bags. It is also important not to have them chargeable because no one likes to pay unnecessarily. So, this is a grave situation and the right actions must be taken before we do more damage than what we can mitigate.

There are no visible reasons behind why plastic bags should not be banned as they are claimed to have poor decomposition property. However, there are certain groups and organizations that support the use of plastic bags. According to their claims, the plastic bag takes up lesser space as compared to its alternative paper bags. In addition the decomposition time and process of paper and plastic bags is the same.

These are some of the findings which clearly explain as why plastic bags should not be banned. The answer to the pollution caused by the plastic bags is bio degradable plastic. Paper bags have been touted to be the best alternative for the plastic bags. However, it is important to understand that the papers are made up of tree. Millions of trees are cut to produce paper. A shortage of tree has led to diminishing forests and disturbed environmental cycle. Shortage of trees has cause many natural calamities like draught and landslides. This is also one of the reasons for why plastic bags should not be banned.

As of now, plastic is irreplaceable. Paper bags can be used for carrying stuff from market to home. But the same cannot be used for storing products like shampoo, chips, candies, and more. Not many are aware of the importance of the plastic and why plastic bags should not be banned. Banning something is not a solution rather finding an alternative can be. Although the government of India is doing its bit in securing the environment, it should also evaluate the other side of the coin. The concerned parties should consider why plastic bags should not be banned if they are not able to find an alternative.

Introduction

Plastic bags, though useful in many ways, have proved to be extremely harmful to the environment due to one single reason – they are non-bio degradable, which means they do not decompose easily making their disposal a huge challenge.

Our soil takes almost 500 years to decompose one plastic bag. Burning them also does not help as it releases poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Despite its extreme harmful effects, plastic bags are extensively used today because they are light weight, convenient, durable and economical.

Plastic bags are the hash one pollutants of land and ocean. Banning them would mean that we will forever be free from the extreme damages it causes on our environment. Our lands and oceans will have a lot less litter in them. The adverse health effects it causes on humans, animals and marine life is irrevocable. Banning them will tread us on a much healthier journey.

Plastic bags are manufactured using petroleum and produced in quantities of trillions per year. Such huge volumes of petroleum can instead be directed towards more important basic necessities like automobile fuel.

Banning plastic bags will mean that we will have to find a more organic material as an alternate. A well-known alternate for plastic bags are paper bags. The commodity paper is extensively used today and hence is already under mass production, causing a huge toll on our environment by the number of trees being cut down for this sake. Now introducing paper bags will only adverse this. In that case, introducing any other organic material as an alternate for such an extensively used product will only mean a greater depletion of the already minimized natural resources.

We can either look at the cons of banning plastic bags as a problem or opportunity. On realizing the need, the problem of having less natural resources can turn into an opportunity to create more natural resources by planting more trees.

Introduction.

Environmental conservation is a critical aspect that every nation should prioritize. Plastic bags are a great enemy to the environment because they are not biodegradable and contributes to environmental pollution among other hazards. Plastic bags are made of chemicals that are toxic to both humans and the environment.

The use of plastic bags has been an effective way of transporting items but due to the harmful effects and the inappropriate disposal, most countries have banned its use in order to opt for safer options. India has a plan to do away with the use of plastic bags by the year 2022 and I believe it is a realizable goal which will help in reducing the harmful effects.

Harmful effects of plastic bags.

Plastic bags have harmful effects that are related to ow they are used. Using plastic bags to heat food in a microwave cause the release of toxins to the food in it, which upon consumption by humans cause diseases like cancer, asthma and ulcers. Plastic bags that end up in water bodies cause deleterious effects to aquatic life. This is as a result of inappropriate disposal of these plastic bags. The policy of recycling plastic bags has terribly failed because people do not adhere to rules as they are ignorant regarding harmful effects of plastics.

Benefits of banning plastic bags.

Banning plastic bags will definitely reduce harmful effects. Although not immediately because an environmental clean-up will be required. The ban and will regulate disposal of plastic bags through policies of taxation and fines. The world would be a better place without environmental pollution because animals will not die due to consumption of plastic bags, humans would not contact illnesses and the physical and biological aspects of the environment would remain unchanged by plastic bags.

Introduction:

The urbanization, technical revolution, and the ease of every process have led to the usage of plastic in such a way that plastics have become an inevitable component in our day to day life. Plastic bags have become a very common commodity that these are given for free during the purchases at the grocery shops or vegetable shops. But, the actual scenario is, instead of making our lives easy, these plastic bags are the root cause of various issues like environmental pollution, illness in humans and animals, etc.

Problems of using plastic bags:

These plastic bags that we rely on for our every purchase at every store are perilous for the environment. The problem of using plastic bags is much more serious than it actually appears. Various studies report that these plastic bags are the major cause of water pollution. Additionally, these plastic bags make our fertile agricultural land highly infertile by occupying the underground and avoiding the uptake of minerals by the plants.

The increased use of plastic bags makes the disposal of them a herculean task. As plastic is non-biodegradable, it takes almost 5000 years for the degradation to take place. The plastic bags can clog our waterways and is also a very harmful toxin for the aquatic life. Plastic bag wastes cannot be even disposed of through incineration as the process releases harmful gases that can deteriorate the atmosphere.

On a larger scale, plastic bags should be banned as they can be dreadful to wild and marine life as well. Many times, these bags are mistaken for eatables by birds and animals. The plastic, which is consumed by these species, will then congest their digestive tracts, often leading to health problems like infections. Sometimes, this could even lead to the death of these animals by suffocation.

Above all, there are some external costs linked to these plastic bags. In addition to the costs linked to the production and buying of these plastic bags, there are other costs, such as:

• Environmental costs
• Resource extraction
• Resource depletion
• Loss of quality of life
• Economic loss
• Wildlife loss

Conclusion:

Plastic bags are banned in most of the countries globally. However, we must understand that mere ban can never help to sort the hazardous effects of the plastic bags. It is high time that we realize the importance of our precious environment and avoid things that can degrade our environment. It is proved that plastics and plastic made materials like bags and toys are making the lifecycle of plants, animals and of course, the users of the plastic bags, the humans tougher. So, let’s go green and avoid plastics for a safer environment and a healthier life.

Plastics have become part and parcel of our daily life. From a tiny pen to huge containers, plastic possess the lion’s share. If we merely take a look around us, we can find umpteen items which have plastic content it. Being cheap and easy to carry, it has managed to creep into every household.

Despite being aware of the health hazards caused by plastics, people continue to use it on a regular basis. The plastic bag is a major villain that poses a threat to the ecology in general and living things in particular. So it is high time that we eradicate this deathly item from our environment, if we are unable to put a conscious effort to recycle it.

Why say no to plastic bags?

Plastics do not undergo the natural process of decomposition due to its non-bio degradable properties; hence, it paves the way to severe environmental pollution, spoils the soil and its fertility.

Studies suggest that over one trillion plastics bags are being used worldwide every year. The issue is regarding its disposal. These wastes accumulate in heaps and become a great menace to the ecosystem. If we look forward to burning plastic bags, they emit toxic gases into the atmosphere, which when inhaled causes severe health problems.

Another issue occurs when the plastic bags interact with soil and diminish the fertility. It has a significant impact on the agricultural produce and yielding. During rain, these flow into water bodies causing water pollution. In spite of this, it wreaks havoc to aquatic species and marine wildlife. Marine species have found consuming plastic pieces by mistake as natural food and finally succumb to death.

Plastic bags littered carelessly are fed upon by dogs, cats, monkeys, cows, etc. This, in turn, can block their digestive system and ultimately render them a slow death. So the use of plastic bags is quite dangerous to animals. Moreover, children, if exposed to plastic items are at high risks of suffocation. They seem to be quite attracted to the plastic bags of different colors and shape, which is very hazardous.

Plastic bags mounted in heaps raises much public health issues. The dumping yards become the breeding grounds of microorganisms that are sources of different life-threatening diseases. These can also lead to the multiplication of mosquitoes, rats, etc., which are the carriers of many epidemics. Plastic bags have proven to cause a visible depletion of natural resources. It is also found to enter into drainage system resulting in severe blocks.

The use of plastic bags, in the long run, seeks to contribute to climate change and global warming. The process of manufacturing plastics involves the emission of greenhouse gases. Hence plastic bags are proven to cause the ecological imbalance which threatens the environment, which is our basic life supporting system.

What can be the solution?

Make it a practice to use jute bags, cloth bags or paper bags instead of plastic bags. Encourage others to do the same and let them follow your example. Spread awareness on the ill effects of plastic bags and be enthusiastic to go green. Switch over to an eco-friendly lifestyle and embrace the 3 R’s, namely Reduce, Re-use and Re-cycle. Remember, change begins from you, and so keep plastic bags at bay.

We come across the use of plastic bags almost every day. There would hardly be a person would not have come across plastic bags. Most the plastic bags we use are discarded after some uses and then these plastic bags find themselves lying in a heap of garbage.

Do you know what happens to them after that? We assume that like the vegetable waste from our kitchens, these bags shall be put to some good use. However, this is not true. They may be recycled, but apart from that, there is hardly anything which can be done from them.

In fact, they are a non-biodegradable waste and shall remain in their present form in the soil or water even after a thousand years. So, do we all realise how harmful these plastic bags are for the environment?

History of Plastic Bags

The plastics we utilize today have made some amazing progress since Alexander Parkes originally acquainted them with the world at London’s Great International Exhibition in 1862. Parkes’ material was a natural subsidiary of cellulose that could be formed when warmed and after that kept up its shape after cooling.

The Coining of the word “Plastic”

Yet, it wasn’t until 1909 that “plastic” was instituted. Leo H. Baekeland utilized the term to depict another class of materials that included “Bakelite,” a substance he made from coal tar. Bakelite was utilized to deliver numerous things, including phones, cameras, and even ashtrays. In spite of the fact that a key segment in these things, plastics did not turn out to be extremely well known until after World War I, when oil, a more effortlessly handled substance than coal, turned out to be promptly accessible.

Plastic Bags – A Boon or a Curse?

Plastic bags are lightweight and be carried anywhere without much effort. This may sound a boon to us but wait; there is another side of the coin as well. Being lightweight makes them getting carried away by the wind as well as water. Hence they land up in seas and oceans and pollute them. Moreover, while getting carried away with the wind, at times, they get stuck up in fences and litter our landscapes.

Polypropylene is the material used to make plastic bags which makes them so durable to use. However, this polypropylene is prepared from natural gas and petroleum and they are no-biodegradable as well. Moreover, during the production of various plastic products, including the plastic bags, green-house gases are released which is a major cause of global warming in the world today.

There is a misconception that recycling is an alternative to the misuse of plastic bags. However, it is not widely known that an average of only 5% of the plastic bags can be recycled with the remaining 95% finding their way in soil, water and landscapes.

Although they are considered as one of the most convenient bags to carry loads of products, plastic bags are harmful to human health. There are a few synthetic substances from the plastic bags which can disturb the typical working of hormones in the body.

Most plastic pieces in the seas like plastic bags have a few contaminations, for example, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) together with PAHs (Polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons) which are hormone disturbing. When the marine creatures devour these synthetic concoctions, they travel through the food web then later into the people who consume sea animals especially the fishes. They could create malignant growths or different genuine conditions.

How can we minimise their use?

Plastic bags have been restricted in a number of nations all over the world. The government of India has additionally restricted the utilization of plastic bags in many states. It is important for the government to take strict measures to guarantee that the use of these bags is stopped. In fact, there must be curbs on the production of plastic bags altogether.

Similarly, the retailers must be fined for selling plastic bags. Those seen carrying plastic bags should likewise be fined. Another strategy which can be used is that good quality plastic bags which are made available in the market must be made chargeable.

There is no doubt that plastic bags have made our lives simpler from multiple points of view. We see them blowing around on the roads and they regularly wind up in streams and the seas. These bags can be unsafe to creatures, for example, turtles, that ingest them or are choked by them, particularly in marine conditions where plastic bags look like jellyfish and other eatable things.

The one stop bag which comes as a solution to carrying liquids, commodities to garments, plastic bags have been a rage since the beginning of time ( At least for the Millennials & Techno Kids). In 1933, when the world’s super powers were busy fighting each other, one of the powerful monarchs of the time, British Empire had time to create a Polyethylene in a plant in Northwest England solely for Industrial purposes.

After nearly 30 years of research the Swedish Company Celloplast patented the Polyethylene Bag which was designed by Sten Gustaf Thulin. Thus, putting an end to the organic counterpart’s cloth, paper and glass bottles for liquid storages. In this essay we will discuss briefly the aftermath of this unique discovery.

Popularity of Plastic Bags

The popularity of the plastic bags is majorly because of the super markets across Europe and US which quickly adopted the bags in the early 1980’s. Safeway and Kroger were the two supermarket giants of US who became the pioneers in spreading the then boon of carrying of state of matter. From the mid of 80’s plastic bags were in the nook and corner of the earth making it an indispensable product in the world.

Bane of Plastic Bags

Most of the plastics which are in existence are made of long chains of Ethylene monomer molecules which in turn is derived from natural gas and petroleum. Also , the outlook of the plastic is enhanced by adding coloured dyes and other additives . These make the plastic durable and at the same time non-degradable. In one of the articles by “The Outlook”, it has been mentioned that one plastic bag takes around 500 to 1000 years to decompose .

In another article written by Darrin Qualman it has come to light that humans produce around 400 million tonnes of plastic a year. Hence it was no wonder when in 1997 Charles Moore, a sailor researcher discovered the Giant Pacific Garbage patch which had immense amount of plastic waste.

Impact of Plastic Bags on Environmental Pollution

Plastic bags have huge impact on land and water. The pollution of ocean water by the plastics has a drastic impact on the food web. All the aquatic animals and plants take into their systems plastic fragments which is in the ocean. (To be precise, 46,000-1,000,000 plastic fragments is present in every square mile of our world’s oceans). Humans then consume the sea foods and take it to themselves in a harmful way. Sharks and Whales are washed to the shores dead as they gobble these plastic bags considering it as Zoo planktons. Also, the deposition of plastic waste hinders the free flow of rainwater thereby reducing the ground water.

Humans and Animals Suffer

It is no wonder that plastics would affect the living things in this planet. Every plastic bag which looks enticing, emulates different toxic elements, making the food product harmful. Sometimes these turn out to be carcinogenic as well.

Researchers have discovered that the plastic minuscules entering the food packets are true. Used plastic bags that are thrown up on the roads are consumed by many animals such as cows, goats since they think it as eatables. This can result in the animals choking up and prove to be fatal. In other cases, it gets accumulated in the animal’s body inducing illness and death eventually.

Poor Waste Management

Plastics live forever. All of the plastics bags and plastics which was ever produced from the beginning of time (i.e. approximately from 1960’s) still live in some form in this planet. Out of the total plastic waste only 18% is recycled. The rest are found clogging the drains, polluting the soil, land and water. Plastic is invincible, it doesn’t allow decay and it doesn’t decay . Every time a person throws away a straw or disposes a water bottle after drinking a billion kilograms of it just gets accumulated. Plastics when burnt give out very harmful gases such as hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, dioxins, furans and heavy metals, as well as particulates. There is no such thing as you can destroy plastic bags but to prevent it from usage would be one of the best options.

Clogging and Bangladesh

Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh is one of the populated cities in the world. Monsoon hits Bangladesh between May to July, the city gets waterlogged and the sewers are all plastic clogged and is nothing short of a crisis. They had a disastrous flooding because of the plastic waste clogging the drains. In the year 2002, Bangladesh stepped up becoming the first country to ban plastic bags . According to a Waste Concern Study, it was found that Bangladesh produced around six million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Out of this a whopping 51% (323,000 tonnes) is recycled. The country passed a law in 2010 making Jute packaging a mandate replacing the plastic packaging even though it was expensive. In the year 2017, Kenya followed suit and banned plastic bags and products and levies a high fine if the ban is overruled.

Alternatives for Plastics

Man should return to basics. Usage of cloth, paper and jute bags was how the baby boomers lived in this world. We are also aware that when man returns to making paper bags, forests may be cut down. Efficient choices such as beneficial lifestyle choices like a reusable bag, carrying your water bottles, drinking the juice from your cups rather than using a straw etc. can help the society be sustainable . Bangladesh ensured a new industry (Jute Industry) rises when they banned plastic bags. Wiser choices make a healthier environment.

Plastic bag usage has become an imminent catastrophe which needs immediate attention. Every government and its citizens should make conscious efforts to mitigate the usage of plastic bags and the impact of it. #BeatPlasticPollution has been chosen as the theme of World Environment Day this year 2018. Every company and government around the world are announcing initiatives and awareness campaigns to curb plastic bad usage. We need to create a viable environment for the upcoming generation and banning plastic bags is one of the ways forward.

Environment Pollution , Plastic

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Should Plastic be Banned Essay

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One type of pollution that is seriously harming our ecosystem is plastic pollution, to which plastic bags are a significant contributor. It poses a risk to Earthly life. The reduction of usage of plastic bags is necessary to minimize pollution. Plastic bags pollute the land, the air, and the water. This is the rationale behind the bans on them in a number of nations. Nevertheless, these are still frequently utilized and proven to be harmful to the environment in most regions of the world.

In this article, we will exoplore essays arguing in favor of banning plastic bags. Let’s see.

Table of Content

Long and Short English Essay on the Need for a Plastic Bag Ban

Short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 200 words, essay on environmental pollution and plastic – 300 words, essay on why plastic bags are harmful for health – 400 words, essay on problems caused by plastic bags – 500 words, long essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 600 words.

You can use these various length essays on the topic of why plastic bags should be prohibited for your examinations and school projects. You can choose any essay on why plastic bags ought to be outlawed based on your needs and preferences.

Plastic bags are frequently used and easily found in stores. Because they are useful for transporting groceries, these are particularly well-liked at grocery stores. These come in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced in addition to being lightweight. But we don’t consider the expense of utilizing these bags. These bags are depleting our lovely surroundings. Indeed! The ecology is at risk from the plastic bags we use on a daily basis.

The issue is far more serious than it first seems. According to researchers, one of the main reasons for water pollution is plastic bags. Some other reasons would be infertility of crop lands.

Many states in our nation have banned the use of plastic bags. Nevertheless, this rule hasn’t been properly implemented. These are still offered for sale. The stores give these bags to customers, who are happy to take their belongings in these convenient tote bags. It’s time for each of us to realize how serious the problem is and to give up using plastic bags.

The level of pollution in our surroundings is increasing daily. It has grown significantly since the start of the industrial revolution. In the previous few decades, pollution has multiplied due to an increase in factories and automobiles on our globe. While factory and car smoke has negatively impacted air quality and made breathing difficult, trash from homes and businesses has primarily contributed to the pollution of water and land, which has led to a number of serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Plastic is one of the primary drivers of contamination in the modern world, in addition to other things. Plastic is normally used in the creation of a wide range of things, like plastic sacks, kitchenware, furniture, entryways, sheeting, bundling material, ledges, and that’s just the beginning. Plastic is gotten from non-renewable energy sources like oil and petrol. Individuals like plastic items since they are more reasonable and lightweight than wood or metal items.

How much plastic waste that is challenging to discard is becoming because of the expanded utilization of plastic. The material plastic isn’t biodegradable. It deteriorates and ages over the long haul, yet it never mixes in with the dirt. Plastic adds to natural harm and is available in the climate for many years. Poisons that damage soil and water are delivered into landfills. Plastic couldn’t actually be scorched to dispose of it since consuming plastic deliveries destructive exhaust that can prompt significant medical conditions. Accordingly, discarding plastic has become progressively troublesome.

Along these lines, a few countries have prohibited plastic packs, which contribute essentially to plastic contamination. In any case, just prohibiting plastic packs won’t cut it. To decrease ecological contamination, extra plastic articles should likewise be prohibited.

It is imperative that we comprehend the extent to which plastic is devasting our ecosystem and making life more difficult for humans, animals, plants, and marine life. Reduced plastic product consumption is necessary to maintain a cleaner environment.

The ubiquitous plastic bags we use on a daily basis pose a threat to life as we know it. These have gradually crept into our lives and are now a significant contributor to both human and animal illness.

Plastic Bags: Dangerous to Human Well-Being

The health of individuals is enormously hurt by plastic packs. Plastic packs just adversely influence human wellbeing from the second they are created until they are discarded as garbage.

The wellbeing of individuals who work in the plastic pack industry is harmed by the risky synthetics made during the most common way of giving plastic sacks their ideal shape. Food bundling often utilizes plastic packs. As per scientists, a few destructive substances from the plastic get into the food items that are bundled in it. Accordingly, rather than keeping the food securely pressed, plastic sacks pollute it. Various occurrences of plastic sullying food have been recorded. Devouring such food can seriously endanger one for food contamination, stomach related issues, and different sicknesses.

Furthermore, a lot of non-biodegradable trash is delivered by plastic packs. For almost 500 years, this junk is as yet present on the planet. The nature of drinking water is brought down when this waste material gets into water bodies. Throughout recent many years, there has been a huge decrease in the nature of drinking water. The essential driver of this is the developing amount of plastic packs that are being discarded in drinking water sources like streams. Various ailments spread by water have supplanted this.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Plastic back trash significantly affects creatures, particularly marine life. After utilizing the plastic packs, we imprudently dispose of them. Most of the rubbish places where the exposed animals assemble looking for food are loaded up with these plastic sacks. Animals habitually consume entire plastic sacks or minimal plastic particles with their dinner. Over the long run, the limited quantity of plastic that collects in their bodies prompts medical problems. Be that as it may, assuming that they gulp down the entire plastic sack immediately, they risk being quickly choked to death.

The marine life is in a comparable situation. Plastic waste has extraordinarily expanded the contamination of oceanic bodies. The water that marine life drinks is turning out to be more regrettable subsequently. Fish, turtles, and other amphibian creatures likewise consume plastic.

Thus, plastic bags are really bad for your health. We should cease using them and replace them with more environmentally friendly options.

Since plastic sacks are lightweight and helpful to deal with, they are exceptionally famous. Moreover, we don’t have to purchase these when we go out to shop, dissimilar to fabric or paper packs. Since they are modest, the storekeepers give them out without limitation when clients purchase anything. Retailers and clients the same blessing plastic sacks for the reasons recorded previously. In any case, we likewise need to see the more extensive picture and see past the transient accommodation.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

(a) Non Biodegradable

Packs made of plastic don’t biodegrade. The biggest problem is disposing of them. They don’t crumble; all things being equal, they separate into little particles and infiltrate soil and water bodies. For many years, they wait in the dirt and water, delivering unsafe synthetic substances that hurt our exquisite planet.

(b) Deterioration of environment

Due to their adverse consequences, they are obliterating the normal world. Nowadays, one of the primary reasons of land defilement is plastic packs. The pre-owned plastic sacks are unloaded in landfills, where it will take them approximately 500 years to separate. Since these sacks are lightweight, the breeze can convey them to significant stretches. Land tainting results from their littering of the encompassing region and landfills. One of the primary drivers of water contamination is plastic sacks that end up in water bodies. Accordingly, these are hurting our biological system in each way.

(c) Dangerous to Marine Life and Animals

Plastic garbage is eaten by creatures and marine life notwithstanding food. Since plastic can’t be separated, it becomes trapped in their digestive organs. Different creatures and marine life experience grave medical problems because of a lot of plastic structure up in their digestive organs. At times, creatures accidentally gulp down the entire plastic pack. They are gagged to death when something becomes held up in their digestion tracts or throat. Especially famous for consuming the full plastic sack immediately, ocean turtles botch it for jellyfish. Studies uncover that disposed of plastic packs have been a critical supporter of untimely creature passings.

(d) The Reason Behind Human Illness

When plastic bags are made, hazardous chemicals are released into the air, endangering the health of those who work on them. Food contained in plastic bags may potentially be harmful to your health. Furthermore, waste plastic bags pollute the environment, as was already explained. One of the main factors contributing to the spread of many diseases among humans is pollution.

(e) Blockage in Sewage

Rubbish plastic sacks every now and again become trapped in channels and sewers in the wake of imploding in water or being passed up the breeze. The two individuals and creatures might be in danger from stopped up channels and sewers, especially while it’s coming down. Water develops in the channels because of plastic sack deterrents. This could create what is going on like a flood and impede individuals’ day to day routines.

We must recognize the issues that the convenient plastic bags are causing and put an end to their use. It’s time for our government to enact stringent legislation outlawing plastic bags.

One of the fundamental supporters of ecological debasement is plastic sacks. Since plastic is a non-biodegradable material, plastic packs dirty the biological system significantly for many years after they are left in the climate. It is currently exceptionally important to ban plastic packs before they thoroughly annihilate our planet.

Countries Where Plastic Bags are Prohibited

To restrict the utilization of plastic packs, various countries have either forced charges on them or through and through prohibited them. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Britain, Germany, Hawaii, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island, and Maine are a couple of these. The utilization of plastic packs has essentially diminished because of these activities. But since these endeavors haven’t been as effective in executing them, the issue actually hasn’t been completely fixed.

In a few of these countries, there is an underground market for plastic packs, and these dangerous sacks are as yet being sold unlawfully.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

The governments of several nations have implemented strict policies to restrict the use of plastic bags for a variety of reasons. Among these are a few of these:

• Plastic bag waste is severely damaging the land and water.
• Animals that live on land and in water face a threat from plastic bags.
• Plastic bag waste releases chemicals into the earth, rendering it unusable for cultivation.
• The health of people is being severely impacted by plastic bags.
• Plastic bags cause issues with drainage.

Maintain a Tab

It is challenging to suddenly stop utilizing plastic packs when we have become so used to them. We should continually be helping ourselves to remember the adverse outcomes that plastic sacks have on the climate and screen our utilization of them assuming we are to prevail in this goal. We will ultimately become acclimated to living without these packs.

L ook for Substitutes

Plastic bags have a lot of environmentally acceptable substitutes. Every time we go to the market, we can bring a reusable jute or cloth bag to carry our groceries and other belongings instead of the plastic ones.

Reuse: Before tossing away the plastic bags we now own at home, we should utilize them as often as possible.

Raise Awareness

We may likewise bring issues to light through informal, despite the fact that the public authority ought to utilize commercials and hoardings to bring issues to light of the adverse consequences of plastic packs and the requirement for a boycott. We can illuminate the young locally, maids, and vehicle wash drivers about the mischief that plastic sacks do to the climate and urge them to quit any pretense of utilizing them.

Plastic sack related issues are as often as possible ignored and underestimated. This is a consequence of people not considering the drawn out impacts of the little, lightweight sacks they use consistently. They keep on utilizing these sacks regardless of realizing that they have adverse consequences on account of how advantageous they are.

Related Articles:

• Plastic Pollution
• Single Use Plastics – Concerns and Solutions

FAQs on Should Plastic be Banned Essay

What is a 5 sentence on plastic.

Plastic is an artificial material that doesn’t break down naturally. We haphazardly incorporate it into practically all daily products. Plastic waste builds up and contaminates the environment. Its buildup affects the land, rivers, and seas.

Why we should stop using plastic?

The remaining three quarters, which are not recycled, end up in our environment where they contaminate our oceans and disrupt our ecosystem. Marine life is particularly vulnerable since most plastic debris from less developed nations ends up in the ocean.

Why is plastic harmful?

Plastic persists in the ecosystem for a very long time, endangering species and dispersing pollutants. The use of plastic also fuels global warming. The chemicals used to make almost all plastics are derived from the burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil, and gas.

What is the slogan for no plastic?

“No plastic, no pollution.” “Protect Earth: avoid plastic.” “Say no to plastic, make Earth magic.” “Use less plastic, love Earth more.” This is the slogan for no plastic.

How plastic is affecting our life?

They offer packaging that minimizes food waste, such as the use of packaging with a modified environment to keep meat and vegetables fresher longer (Mullan, 2002). Plastics lower transportation costs and, thus, atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions because of their light weight.

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Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Plastic bags are a major contributor to plastic pollution – a kind of pollution that is deteriorating our environment. It is a threat to life on Earth. Plastic bags must be banned in order to reduce pollution. Plastic bags cause land, air as well as water pollution. This is the reason why these have been banned in various countries. However, these are still being widely used in most parts of the world and are proving to be hazardous for the environment. Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned.

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Long and Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English

Here are essays on why plastic bags should be banned of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams and school assignments. You can select any why plastic bags should be banned essay as per your need and interest:

Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 1 (200 words)

Plastic bags are readily available in the market and are used widely. These are especially popular at the grocery stores since they come handy in carrying the grocery items. Available in various sizes these are quite economical and also easy to carry. However, the cost we are paying for using these bags is overlooked. These bags are costing us our beautiful environment. Yes! The plastic bags that we use in our everyday life are hazardous for the environment.

The problem is much serious than it appears. Researchers claim that plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution. These are also responsible for making our agricultural lands infertile and a cause of a number of other serious problems. Many countries have banned the use of plastic bags in order to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. India is also among one of these countries.

Our country has banned the use of plastic bags in many states. However, the implementation of this rule hasn’t been proper. These are still available in the market. The retailers provide goods in these bags and the shoppers gladly take their stuff in these easy to carry bags. It is time each one of us must understand the severity of the issue and stop the use of plastic bags.

Essay on Environmental Pollution and Plastic – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

The degree of pollution in our environment is rising by the day. It has increased rapidly with the advent of industrial revolution. The growing number of factories and vehicles on our planet has increased the pollution level many folds in the last few decades. While the smoke from the vehicles and factories has polluted the air adversely making it difficult to breathe, the industrial and residential waste has contributed majorly to the water and land pollution giving way to several serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Among other things, plastic plays a major role in pollution in today’s time. Plastic which is derived from fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum is being widely used for manufacturing numerous things including plastic bags, kitchenware, furniture, doors, sheeting, packing material, counter tops and what not. People prefer items made of plastic as these are light weight compared to wood or metal items and are also quite economical.

The increasing use of plastic is increasing the amount of plastic waste which is hard to dispose of. Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance. It breaks into pieces, deteriorates over the time but does not become one with the soil. Plastic remains in the environment for hundreds of years and adds to environmental pollution. It goes into the landfills and leaks pollutants that damage soil and water. Plastic cannot even be disposed of by burning as on burning it produces poisonous gases that can cause serious diseases. Disposing plastic has thus become a big challenge today.

Plastic bags that form a major part of the plastic pollution are thus being banned in many countries. However, merely banning plastic bags shall not help. Ban must be imposed on other plastic items as well to bring down the environmental pollution.

It is high time we must understand the intensity at which plastic is destroying our environment and making life difficult for plants, animals, marine creatures as well as human beings. The use of plastic products must be lowered to ensure a cleaner environment.

Essay on Why Plastic Bags are Harmful for Health – Essay 3 (400 words)

Plastic bags that we commonly use in our everyday lives are a threat for life on Earth. These have slowly swept into our lives and are becoming a major cause of illness in animals as well as human beings.

Plastic Bags: Harmful for Human Health

Plastic bags are extremely harmful for human health. From the time these are manufactured till the time these are disposed of as waste – plastic bags do nothing but harm the human health adversely.

The toxic chemicals produced while giving plastic bags their desirable form have a negative impact on the health of those involved in their making. Plastic bags are widely used for food packaging. Researchers claim that some toxic elements from the plastic enter the food items packed in them. Plastic bags thus contaminate the food rather than keeping it safely packed. Many cases of plastic causing harm to the food have been reported. Eating such food can cause food poisoning, intestinal problems and other health hazards. Plastic bags can even lead to suspected human carcinogen.

Apart from this, plastic bags produce immense amount of non-biodegradable waste. This waste remains on earth for almost 500 years. This waste material enters water bodies and degrades the quality of drinking water. The quality of drinking water has gone down drastically in the last few decades. It is majorly because of the increasing amount of plastic bags being dumped in the rivers that are a source of drinking water. This has given way to various water-borne diseases.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Animals and marine creatures are worst effected by waste plastic bags. We throw the plastic bags thoughtlessly after use. These plastic bags form a major part of the garbage areas where the innocent animals go looking for food. Animals often eat small plastic content and even the entire plastic bags along with their food. Small plastic content accumulates in their body and causes health problems over the time. On the other hand, gulping the entire plastic bag in one go can suffocate them to death instantly.

It is the same with the marine creatures. The water bodies are polluted immensely because of plastic waste. It is deteriorating the quality of water that marine creatures drink. Fishes, turtles and other marine creatures also eat plastic content and sometimes gulp the entire plastic bag mistaking it for food and eventually fall ill.

Plastic bags are thus extremely harmful for health. It is in our favour to stop their use and switch to eco-friendly alternatives.

Essay on Problems Caused by Plastic Bags – Essay 4 (500 words)

Plastic bags are quite popular because these are light weight and thus easy to carry. Besides, unlike cloth or paper bags, we do not even require purchasing these as we go shopping. These are economical and thus given freely by the shopkeepers on the purchase of goods. It is because of all these reasons that plastic bags are preferred by both shopkeepers and shoppers. However, we need to look beyond momentary convenience and see the bigger picture.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

• Non Biodegradable

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Thus, disposing them of is the biggest challenge. They break down into small particles and enter the soil and water bodies however they do not decompose. They remain in the soil and water for hundreds of years and release toxic chemicals thereby damaging our beautiful planet.

• Deterioration of Environment

They are destroying the nature owing to their harmful effect. Plastic bags have become a major cause of land pollution today. The waste plastic bags are thrown into the landfills where they take almost around 500 years to decompose. These bags are light in weight and are easily carried by the wind to places far and wide. The litter caused by them on the land and the landfills causes land pollution. The plastic bags that enter the water bodies are a major cause of the water pollution. These are thus deteriorating our environment in every possible way.

• Harmful for Animals and Marine Creatures

Animals and marine creatures consume plastic particles along with their food. Plastic cannot be digested and thus gets trapped in their intestines. Large amount of plastic is accumulated in the intestines of various animals and sea creatures and results in serious health problems in them. Sometimes, animals gulp the entire plastic bag by mistake. This gets stuck in their throat or intestines and chokes them to death. Sea turtles are especially known to have the entire plastic bag in one go mistaking it for jelly fish. Research shows that waste plastic bags have been a major cause of untimely animal deaths.

• Cause of Illness in Humans

The production of plastic bags releases toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness among those involved in their production. Food packed in plastic bags can also cause health hazards. Besides, as mentioned above waste plastic bags cause environmental pollution. Polluted environment is a major cause of various diseases caught by the human beings.

• Clogged Sewage

Waste plastic bags often run down with water or are blown by the wind and get trapped in the drains and sewers. Clogged sewers and drains can be a threat to the human beings as well as animals especially during rains. The water gets accumulated as the drains are blocked because of plastic bags. This can result in flood like situation and disrupt the normal life of people.

We need to understand the problems being caused by the easy-to-carry plastic bags and stop their use. It is time our government should take some strict measures to ban plastic bags.

Long Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 5 (600 words)

Plastic bags are a major cause of environmental pollution. Plastic as a substance is non-biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become extremely essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin our planet completely.

Countries that have Banned Plastic Bags

Many countries around the globe have either put a ban on plastic bag or levi tax on it in order to restrict its usage. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, England, Germany, Hawaii, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island and Maine are among some of these. These measures have brought down the usage of plastic bags to a large extent. However, the problem hasn’t been solved completely because the implementation of these measures hasn’t been as successful.

Black market for plastic bags exists in some of these countries and these toxic bags are still being circulated illegally.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

There are numerous reasons why the government of various countries have come up with strict measures to limit the use of plastic bags. Some of these include:

• Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely.
• Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water.
• Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile.
• Plastic bags are having negative impact on the human health.
• Plastic bags lead to drainage problem.

Public Must Support Plastic Bag Ban

While the Indian government has imposed ban on the usage of plastic bags in many states, people are still seen carrying these bags. Shopkeepers stop providing plastic bags to the shoppers for a few days every now and then but switch back to them as the government doesn’t take any strong measures to stop their production and distribution. It is time we must contribute our bit to make this ban a success.

We, the educated lot of the society must take it as our responsibility to stop the use of plastic bags and ensure that those around us stop using these too. Here is how we can support the government in this direction:

We are so accustomed to using plastic bags that it is difficult to stop their usage completely all of a sudden. In order to be successful in this mission, we must keep reminding ourselves about the harmful effects of the plastic bags on our nature and keep a tab on their use. Gradually, we will become habitual to doing without these bags.

• Seek Alternatives

There are many eco friendly alternatives to plastic bags. Instead of taking plastic bags to carry our grocery items and other stuff, we can carry a reusable jute or cloth bag each time we head to the market.

We should reuse the plastic bags we already have at home as many times as we can before throwing them away.

• Spread Awareness

While the government should spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags and the need to ban them by way of advertisements and hoardings, we can also spread awareness through word of mouth. We can educate our house help, car cleaner and kids in the society about the environmental problems caused due to plastic bags and urge them to stop its use.

The problems caused due to plastic bags have often been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. They keep using these bags owing to the convenience they offer completely ignoring the fact that these bags have adverse effect on the environment and are a threat to life on earth.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Plastic Bags — The Debate Of Whether Single-use Plastic Should Be Banned

The Debate of Whether Single-use Plastic Should Be Banned

• Categories: Environmental Issues Plastic Bags

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Published: Dec 16, 2021

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Invisible plastic: Why banning plastic bags will never be enough

How ordinary items like toothpaste and teabags could actually be damaging our environment.

This week, the fourth round of treaty talks by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution concluded in Ottawa, Canada. A major bone of contention between negotiators from 175 countries is whether or not to limit the production of plastic , most of which is made from fossil fuels and chemicals and which causes pollution after use, as it does not fully or easily biodegrade.

Despite several rounds of talks, the pervasive plastic problem remains unresolved. A final round of talks is scheduled to be held in South Korea at the end of this year.

Keep reading

Japanese scientists find microplastics are present in clouds, finding a fix: nigerian women lead drive to upcycle plastics, is the world capable of stopping a climate apocalypse, is israel’s gaza bombing also a war on the climate.

Amid global struggles to curb plastic pollution, the United Kingdom said last month that it would introduce legislation to ban wet wipes which contain plastic. Wet wipes made with plastic have been shown to leach harmful microplastics into the environment after they have been disposed of.

Everyone knows that plastic bags are a blight on the environment, but what other everyday items – also known as “invisible plastics – unexpectedly contain plastic or harmful “microplastics” and is there a solution?

What are invisible plastics and ‘microplastics’?

These are items which are seemingly not made of plastic – such as wet wipes – but which, once disposed of, release plastic into the environment.

“Invisible plastics are everywhere,” Tony Walker, a professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University in Canada who also belongs to the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, said.

“In terms of global plastic production, which includes things like the table I’m sat at, the chair I’m sat on, my computer – you name it, it probably contains a plastic of some kind.”

Not all plastic needs to be eliminated, he said, particularly if it is used to make furniture which could last for several decades.

Single-use items containing plastic should be the focus, he added. These are adding to the “tonnes of plastic that are sitting in our landfills”, he said, often leaching harmful microplastics into the environment.

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic which can even make their way into our food – for example by first being broken down and ingested by fish when they get into the sea. Walker added that even so-called “biodegradable plastic”, which is advertised as being able to break down naturally once disposed of, can contain microplastics.

Which unexpected items could contain plastic?

Some other everyday items which surprisingly contain plastic are:

• Chewing gum : A key ingredient used in making chewing gum – “gum base” – actually contains polyvinyl acetate, a plastic which does not biodegrade once the gum is disposed of.
• Tea bags: To retain their shape while they are in hot water, most tea bags are lined with a plastic called polypropylene. The same applies to many coffee filters.
• Sunscreen:  Several brands of sunscreen use microplastics as an ingredient in their formula.
• Aluminium cans: Many aluminium cans that contain soda have a lining of plastic to prevent the acid from the soda from reacting with the metal of the can.
• Receipts:  Many receipts are printed on thermal paper, which is coated with a layer of plastic to give it a shiny finish, making most paper receipts non-recyclable.
• Toiletries and laundry products: Some toothpaste brands contain tiny beads or micro-beads of plastic which act as exfoliants. These do not degrade or dissolve in water. Micro-beads can also be found in facial scrubs, makeup products and laundry detergent powders.

What are countries doing about this problem?

During a session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, a landmark resolution was adopted to draft an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution.

Under the resolution, an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) including representatives from 175 countries, has been holding talks with the aim of drafting a treaty by the end of this year. Previous sessions have convened in Uruguay , France and Kenya . The fourth session wrapped up this week in Canada and the last one will be held between November and December in South Korea.

This time, major disagreements about limiting the amount of plastic manufactured globally arose.

Environmental experts say it is crucial that they reach an agreement on this issue. Plastic production continues to rise around the world and the annual production of fossil fuel-based plastic is projected by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to triple by 2060 if nothing changes.

The head of Greenpeace in Ottawa, Graham Forbes, said that it will be impossible to end plastic pollution without massively reducing plastic production.

“Current global production [of plastic] is over 400 million metric tons [tonnes] annually,” said Walker. “However, we’re recycling on average as a planet, only 9 percent. That leaves 91 percent of 400 million metric tons as waste.”

Why don’t some countries want to reduce plastic production?

This is mainly down to economic factors, experts say.

Some “have vested interest in producing plastic products or petroleum products”, Walker explained. These countries believe that stopping the production of plastic would hurt their economies, he added.

Will governments find a solution?

Experts are calling on countries represented at the INC to work much harder to reach a consensus on the production of plastic before the end of this year.

Walker pointed out that plastic is a transboundary pollutant, crossing rivers and borders, meaning countries should have a vested interest in tackling this issue. “Plastics are now in the atmosphere, in the air we breathe, so they’re actually travelling between continents on air currents,” said Walker.

Opinion Can the world really engineer its way out of climate change?

Readers are skeptical. They’re also eyeing their recycling bins with dismay, dreaming of gardens full of native plants and cheering on the EPA.

It was reckless of the Editorial Board to describe large-scale manipulation of the Earth’s climate systems as “cheap and potentially game-changing.” Moreover, the sort of diplomacy the editorial called for is occurring; it just isn’t producing the results The Post prefers.

The Editorial Board criticized the failure to adopt a Swiss proposal at a recent United Nations Environment Assembly. However, the board failed to note that at the same meeting, 54 African countries, with the support of Colombia and other Global South countries, called for a mechanism to ensure that solar geoengineering would not be used. Their objections include concerns that the continent could be used as an experimental zone whose people and lands are harmed first and worst, and worries that such mitigation efforts are just an excuse for wealthy countries to continue consuming in the same damaging ways, and at the same rate.

This echoes the call by more than 450 scholars for an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering , which notes the unacceptable risk posed by solar geoengineering and the impossibility of fair and effective governance in our current world order. These unproven technologies carry incredibly dangerous risks, among them altering weather patterns across the globe with unknown impacts to ecosystems and biodiversity. Agricultural patterns could be upended, threatening food and water supplies for many millions.

Geoengineering is the ultimate dangerous distraction from bringing about what is unambiguously necessary: a just and equitable fossil fuel phaseout. Our governments don’t need to regulate solar geoengineering. For the sake of a truly sustainable future, they need to permanently ban it.

Benjamin Day , Boston

The writer is a senior campaigner with Friends of the Earth’s climate and energy justice team.

I found the April 28 editorial, “ Who gets to decide to re-engineer the weather? ,” somewhat troubling. Sending sulfur up into the air could increase the possibility of acid rain and harm to plants that remove carbon dioxide and feed people. But we do need creative solutions for managing extreme weather.

Some years ago, I sent an idea to NASA about releasing a test dose of biodegradable iron particles into the atmosphere. These would concentrate near Earth’s magnetic poles to protect the ice caps yet allow solar rays to help crops and forests to grow in temperate and tropical zones along the equator. I never heard back, which reflects domestic inertia, not only the lack of international effort mentioned in the editorial. We need an open forum of ideas, supported by carbon taxes, as it seems today’s world is headed toward the disastrous solution of nuclear winter.

Henry Chang , Bethesda

One word: Plastics

Regarding Eve O. Schaub’s April 23 Tuesday Opinion essay, “ How to celebrate Earth Day? Just dump this toxic stuff. ”:

What a disheartening piece on the futility of plastic recycling. I’m not saying it’s incorrect, just sad.

This is not the first time I’ve heard that recycling plastic might be ineffective. Opinions seem to range from the argument that recycling plastic is well-intentioned but useless, to suggestions that the process is pure hype for marketing purposes (so-called greenwashing). Yet my recycle bin overfloweth!

Given this situation, reducing plastic use is critical, and I suggest a good target is packaging. The amount of entirely unnecessary plastic bags, wraps, ties and fillers that come with every consumer item is staggering. In my experience, Apple is a huge abuser in this regard, with even a simple USB cable packed as though it’s a Christmas gift going to the moon. Another example everyone encounters is bedding that comes in sturdy plastic zipper cases. They might look cute lined up on store shelves, but the case could easily be replaced with cloth or cardboard. Take your own inventory; across every type of product and use, excessive plastic packaging is a scourge on the environment and our health.

Of course, a major change would affect the plastics and packaging industries, the workers they employ and the whole supply chain. Somehow we must take that into account as we move toward environmentally friendly solutions.

Eric Wenocur , Olney

Eve O. Schaub’s argument that recycling plastic is a waste of time took a zero-sum approach to an issue that is complicated — and continually improving.

“Plastics” is a broad category of materials with differing chemical compositions and mechanical properties, all of which affect potential recyclability. That is why the recycling rates for different plastic resin types vary significantly, and why the average recycling rate for plastics is low despite some categories of plastics having high recycling rates.

Over the past several years, the recycled-materials industry has made significant investments in technology, education and partnerships to improve plastics recycling rates, and we are seeing improvements as a result for certain resins.

According to the U.S. Plastic Recycling Study , in 2022, more than 5 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic were recovered for recycling (though that figure does represent a slight decline in volume from the previous two years). More than 95 percent of recovered bottles stayed in North America to be remanufactured into new products.

There is still a long way to go, but manufacturers are increasing the use of recycled content and making products that are easier to recycle. They are recognizing the societal value and the demand from their customer base. My organization, for example, is working closely with Colgate-Palmolive, Starbucks and others to address product recyclability and find ways to strengthen recycling across all material categories.

Making a real difference will require a broad commitment from consumers, manufacturers, scientists, engineers and policymakers. This effort is worth everyone’s time.

Robin Wiener , Washington

The writer is president of the Recycled Materials Association.

Regarding the April 26 news article “ Massive volunteer-aided study reveals biggest known plastic polluters ”:

I was disappointed to read that U.S. negotiators at international meetings concerning plastic pollution have been resistant to an agreement that would limit plastic production.

I was a child in the 1940s, and I remember the milkman delivering milk in glass bottles to our house and retrieving the empty bottles for reuse. It was common practice. I drank my share of soft drinks then, but always from glass bottles. We have tried a plastic recycling approach for many decades, and it is apparent this is not working from an environmental perspective. It is time to phase back into the approach that was better for the environment by putting the emphasis on using, and reusing, glass. And if the glass cannot be reused, it can be recycled with a better outcome than trying to recycle plastic.

Robert F. Benson , Silver Spring

Bring back the birds

Regarding Dana Milbank’s April 28 Sunday Opinion essay, “ This tiny flower teaches us all we need to know about growing old ”:

I enjoy reading about Mr. Milbank’s adventures on his new homestead in Virginia’s Piedmont region. This essay about native wildflowers and tree planting was wonderful.

As an avid birdwatcher, I spent more than 20 years in Northern Virginia watching a lot of great habitat being bulldozed and turned into five-acre “estates," a fancy term for a fairly good-sized house with a lawn that was usually mowed down to the nubbin. One maple tree or dogwood would pass for landscaping. Often, streets in these neighborhoods would be named for the birds that used to live there but that no longer had places to nest and feed: Cardinal Court, Bluebird Lane, etc.

I hope Mr. Milbank’s essay will inspire more homeowners to plant trees and wildflowers that are native instead of invasives such as Bradford pears, which are illegal in a growing number of states. This change could do wonders for all the birds that are under threat from increased development.

Rich Rieger , Schuylkill Haven, Pa.

Good for the EPA

Regarding the April 26 Economy & Business article “ EPA rules would slash pollution from power plants ”:

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules limiting coal-fired power-plant emissions will ensure that the United States remains competitive in the renewable-energy economy as well as protect human health and all life. The power industry and its friends have protested that the new rules will be “unrealistic” and “unachievable” and don’t allow enough time to comply. But this argument ignores the fact that the industry has dragged its feet in reducing emissions in the 15 years since the EPA labeled greenhouse gases a health hazard.

Moreover, the power and fossil-fuel industries have both wasted decades of precious time since scientists concluded fossil fuel emissions drive climate change. Given the “pro-life” Republican Party’s opposition to alleviating this threat to life, the outcome of November’s election could very well determine whether power plants will finally clean up their acts — or climate change will be “baked in” to our future.

Michael Wright , Glen Rock, Pa.

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