Plastic bags provoke problems for both environment and human health. We are polluting our planet with five trillion plastic shopping bags a year. Plastic bags remain toxic even after it breaks down. They also clog drains, cause floods, litter landscapes and kill wildlife. Previous to California's single-use plastic bag ban, the state used between 13 and 20 billion of these bags every year, but only 3% were recycled. It means that after it degrades, it breaks down into smaller and smaller toxic bits of itself - and bleeds and contaminates the environment. Its dangerous to fish, to birds and other animals, including farming livestock. a ripple effect of values is a means to direct and accelerate the pace at which environmental concerns shape mainstream societal norms and structures, and become institutionalized in the form of societal levers. (sciencedirect.com). Plastic bag accumulations are one of the most common causes of drainage system clogging. Plastic bags are banned in most of the countries globally. Danielle Chiriguayo Apr 22, 2019. And that includes the supply chain, which must be plastic-free if your organisation is to be truly sustainable. The next time youre asked, Paper or plastic? consider this: According to the Worldwatch Institute, 4 to 5 trillion plastic bagsincluding large trash bags, thick shopping bags and thin grocery bagsare produced globally each year, with roughly 80% of them used in North America and Western Europe. This photo taken on May 12, 2018 shows a dog on a garbage-filled creek in Manila. Microplastics entering the human body through ingestion or inhalation can also be toxic. Around 80 per cent of this goes to landfill or is simply discarded. While the health and safety of the public is of the utmost importance, it is not mutually exclusive with the reduction of single-use plastic. The garbage pile, which is nearly double the size of Hawaii, is known as the Great Pacific Garbage. Plastic can take up to 2000 years to completely decompose. These chemicals can also undermine their reproductive health. One trillion plastic bags are used and disposed of annually worldwide. If you dump plastic in a small portion of soil then even a certain period of time, the plastic would remain unchanged in the soil. Certain chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastic bags, especially BPA, act in the same way as oestrogen. Of that, it is estimated that as many as 100 billion single-use plastic bags are thrown away annually in the United States. . Plastic bags are a huge problem. If any leaks occur, it presents severe implications for the environment and human health. Animals eat food wrappers, waste, and plastic bags leading to digestive problems that can cause death. But it is also very dangerous to wildlife. These bags are very dangerous for sea life, especially those of the mammal variety. Plastic bag chemicals can affect reproduction in women, 11. 93% of Americans age six years and above test positive for BPA, 9. You may opt-out by, Storytelling and expertise from marketers. (Answered), Does Copper Conduct Electricity? Plastic bags also are problematic to recycle. Thus, the aim of this paper is to illustrate the disadvantages of plastic bags and the ways to diminish the number of used plastic bags. Here's how plastic bags impact the environment Watch on Harmful Effects Of Plastic Bags It pollutes the soil,land and water It kills the aquatic and terrestrial life It emits green house gases which leads to global warming The production and uses of plastic bag can impact our food chain Plastics buried in landfills can pollute the groundwater (It is Non-flammable), Does Antifreeze/Coolant Evaporate? Plastics are most common materials in cars, bulletproof vests, toys, hospital equipment, and food containers. 2), California Coastal Commission and Algalita Marine Research Foundation Marine Litter Report, Algalita Marine Research Foundation Plastic Debris Report, 921 11th St, Suite 502Sacramento, CA 95814, CAL-OSHA Health and safety guidance for grocery stores, Grocery Store Protocol adopted in Mendocino County (page 13), Scripps Institution of Oceanography Study on Increased Oceanic Microplastic Debris. Once they are consumed by fish, turtles and whales that mistake them for food, those toxins make their way up the food chain. (Yes. The manufacturing of plastic bags adds many tons of carbon and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere as well [2].. Of the one trillion bags used, less than five . According to the Wild Studies Institute, 80% of this garbage in the ocean originates from land. Thats five trillion bags a year. 4. If bringing reusable bags into your store has been restricted, we recommend placing your groceries in the cart and bagging them in your own bag outside of the store. This chemical has also been associated with thyroid issues and neurologic disorders in humans. Most plastic bags are heat sealed at the seams, while some are bonded with adhesives or are stitched. Plastic bags that end up in landfills or in the environment take over 1,000 years to decompose. And fewer than 3 per cent are recycled. Pollution from plastic materials, such as plastic bags, affect the natural order of feeding. The issue that comes up is that grocery bags are viewed as single-use. While plastic-related chemicals largely affect women and children, men are also at risk. These sea turtles risk extinction partly because of consuming excessive amounts of plastics. 1. The Growing Effects of Plastic Pollution on Marine Wildlife and the Food Chain, Study Finds Rising Levels of Plastics in Oceans (2015), Plastic-eating corals make reefs especially vulnerable to pollution (2015), NRDC Annual Cost to CA Communities of Reducing Litter in our Waterways (2013), US EPA West Coast Communities' Costs for Managing Marine Debris (2012), California Ocean Protection Council Marine Debris Implementation Plan, UN Environmental Program Marine Litter Report, Life Cycle Analysis of Reusable and Single-Use Plastic Bags in CA (Jan 2011), Scripps Institution of Oceanography Study on Increased Oceanic Microplastic Debris (May 2012), Seattle Plastic Litter Study (Vol. Carry them out of the store in your hand. Privacy Legal & Trademarks Campus Map. The Human Impact. Plastic bags are hard to recycle material. It isn't surprising that waste. Plastic rubbish such as carrier bags and plastic sheeting is unsightly, of course. Contrary to popular belief, using plastic bags is a more eco-friendly option than paper ones. Any hunting mammal can easily mistake the size, shape, and texture of the plastic bag for a meal and find its airway is cut off. Sharks and whales are regularly revealed to have plastic . The fourth sentence explains the second problem - that the bags that are littered end up in the ocean. Plastic can increase the risk of prostate cancer in men, Causes, Effects and Solutions of Marine Habitat Loss and Destruction, 12. If customers bring their own bags, ensure: Bags are not placed on conveyor belts or any other area outside of shopping carts. Internationally, 19 countries from Bangladesh to Ireland have passed bans. There was extensive blockage of drainage systems, which was partly attributed to plastic shopping bags. A plastic bag, poly bag, or pouch is a type of container made of thin, flexible, plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile.Plastic bags are used for containing and transporting goods such as foods, produce, powders, ice, magazines, chemicals, and waste.It is a common form of packaging.. Therefore, avoid drinking groundwater unless it has been treated for human consumption. The single-use plastic pollution problem . It's contributing to waste and pollution issues, it's impacting our health, and it's threatening our oceans and wildlife. These plastic bags often get carried away by winds and glitter our landscapes. Then the polyethylene chains are combined to form resin pellets of pure plastic. The UN has started a series of negotiations for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Plastic bags are made from oil, a non-renewable natural resource and a significant contributor to climate change. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death. Lightweight, single-use plastic bags are a unique threat to the environment. Take the sea, for instance. Some of these chemicals are also released as by-products of plastic production. you can make a huge difference to the pollution problem. Plastic bags must be recycled separately from other materials. Once you get home, youll throw the shopper bag in the litter outside. They are also endorsed byCIPET,the Indian Institute of Plastics Engineering, and theIndian Institute of Packaging. When people see others changing their behavior, they will often do the same. While many of us believe that groundwater is safe for drinking, the truth is far from that. . Never Going Back: the Persistant Problem with Plastic Bags. There are no regulations about how that symbol is used, and every city and county in America has different regulations about what can be recycled. That's five trillion bags a year. In the long run, these chemicals may interfere with hormonal balance in women and affect reproduction. Achim Steiner, head of the UN Environmental Program, recently said "there is simply zero justification for manufacturing [plastic bags] any more, anywhere.". After all, what we consider trash is in fact not trash at all. If there are four people in your family, that's 332 plastic bags less every Its Not), Is Ozone Flammable? Therefore, many countries have tried to solve this problem by making an effort to campaign to reduce the use of . Numerous recent international, national, state and local reports have called for the banning or drastic reduction of plastic bags due to their environmental damage. It Does), How Long is Spilled Gas Flammable? Issues With Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags Leaving freshly cleaned laundry in the flimsy plastic bag can cause yellowing, staining, mildew growth, and weakening of fibers. Stores have to pay extra to provide alternatives to plastic bags, which hurts small businesses that cannot absorb a 40 to 200 percent increase in cost for bags. Some 160,000 of them are used every second. DragonFire said: I always have a couple in my backpack these days. This is equivalent to throwing the content of one garbage truck into the sea every minute. Students draw from rich resources to learn about the history of plastic use, why they are so widespread, and why their use has become a social, economic, and geographic problem. Larger items, such as plastic bags and straws, can choke and starve marine life, while smaller fragments (microplastics) can cause liver, reproductive, and gastrointestinal damage in animals. 1) (Vol. Bring your reusable bags instead. (This does not apply to the more than 100 jurisdictions that implemented local ordinances on single-use bags before Jan. 1, 2015. The yellowing and other changes in color are caused by BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) an antioxidant used in the manufacturing of the plastic bag. Plastic bags are a huge problem. For example, sea turtles mistake floating plastic shopping bags for jellyfish. As such, those very same natural resources are embedded in the end product we consume. Contact Us . Major accumulations of rubbish in the oceans. Theres no need to waste so much water manufacturing harmful plastics. Plastic bags start as crude oil, natural gas or other petrochemical derivatives, which are transformed into chains of hydrogen and carbon molecules known as polymers or polymer resin. They go to landfills or to the ocean, where the garbage islands are accumulating. In this article we highlight 15 harmful effects of plastic bags, cutting across social, economic, health, and ecological aspects of life. While plastic bags are very useful in our day-to-day lives, and we seemingly cant do without them, they have a significant contribution to the environmental pollution, wildlife deaths, human health hazards, and other detrimental impacts. According to the researchers, You can get only 50 to 55% fuel from the distillation of petroleum crude oil. Extraction of crude oil and natural gas is done through the process of fracking. Plastic bags are a serious problem for marine life, which includes many types of animals. The plastic consumed by these animals, congest the digestive tract, often leading to health problems like infections. That is certainly very harmful to the health and the environment. The law was meant to be phased in over time, but the referendum vote effectively put the law's implementation on hold until November 9th, 2016. Ingredients of plastic bags include a plethora of neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and hormone-disruptive chemicals. New start-upEarthnest, based in London and Pune, India, manufactures carrier bags from natural materials such as starch. (Explained), Causes and Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion, Causes and Effects to Environmental Pollution, Causes and Effects of Ocean Acidification, Causes and Effects of Marine Habitat Loss, 35+ Outstanding Facts About the Planet Earth. Customers do not bag groceries in the checkout area if they cannot maintain physical distancing. One solution, of course, is to stop using plastic bags. As a nation we need to begin to move away from the very concepts of single-use and waste.. Increase the frequency of disinfection in bagging areas used by customers. 2. And as they cost no more than plastic bags to manufacture, there seems little reason for them not to revolutionise the packaging and retail industries. Companies like Trex are leading this field as one of the largest recyclers of plastic bags in the U.S. Upcycled and reusable products like this are an important part of the waste-reduction puzzle. For hungry sea turtles, it's nearly impossible to distinguish between jellyfish and floating plastic shopping bags. This is attributed to the fact that plastic bags have some chemicals that will mix with the meal when heated. Build-ups of plastic bags are notorious for causing blockages of local drainage systems in developing . Reducing plastic bag usage and encouraging shoppers to use reusable bags will help lessen our demand for new fossil fuels and reduce our environmental impact. To get a small glimpse of what this might look like, click over to this fascinating photo by photographer Chris Jordan depicting 60,000 plastic bags, the number consumed in the U.S. every five seconds in 2007. Tagged: sustainable living, recycling, Katrina Kazda, plastic bag bans, plastic bags, plastic bags for fuel, diesel from plastic bags, up cycling, Green Living. Studies have shown that meals that are eaten or heated in plastic bags result in the development of ulcers, asthma, obesity, and certain cancers. Groceries can be placed in a cart and bagged elsewhere by the customer. Unfortunately, it is easy to become complacent by measuring the wrong things. And because biobags are stronger than conventional plastic bags, they are also perfect for carrying shopping. Plastic bags are the main cause of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, 8. Researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago (the latest city to pass a plastic bag ban, effective August, 2015) recently discovered that plastic bags can quite efficiently be turned back into crude product through an oxygen-free heating process known as pyrolysis. Plastic bags are made of various chemicals which are mainly toxic. Some 160,000 of them are used every second. Plastic shopping bags are based on petroleum and are made from synthetic materials that are resistant to nearly everything except that box of cereal that creates a hole in them. Plastic bags are generally made up from petroleum products: 60-100 million barrels of oil is used for the production of plastic. This facilitates the reduction of land and water pollutants as landfills play the main role in the destruction of our surroundings. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons) Plastic causes an overabundance of problems when discarded into our environment. And fewer than 3 per cent are recycled. The majority of human beings throw away the plastic bags after using them like any other waste products into their trash cans. To do this, consumers need to know what products are made of and where they come from, so they can judge their sustainability. Plastic pollution that has washed up on the shores of Ghana. Plastic bags. Most plastic bags are made out of polyethylene. But since this plastic is made from the petroleum in the first place, we can recover almost 80% fuel from it through distillation.. Polypropylene is the material used to make plastic bags. The A.V. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can. However, today only 15% of plastic waste is recycled. As they are non-biodegradable, they take years to decompose. Many organisations are making great efforts to become sustainable. One solution, of course, is to stop using plastic bags. Read more about life without single-use plastic bags. In fact, all the plastic that has ever been manufactured still lingers in the environment. All in all, Earthnests biobags have all of the advantages of plastic without causing any of the damage to our planet. The fifth sentence summarizes that these are the reasons plastic bags should be banned. Two: recycle the plastic bags you do use. There have also been studies shown that certain chemicals found in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into food and beverages. The most challenging aspect of this is remembering to . We need to reduce our use of plastic bags and we need to find new and creative ways to reuse and recycle this valuable product. BPA helps to make plastic more flexible and durable. According to a study by the World Health Organization, men who are often in contact with phthalates and BPA have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. It seems that plastic bags' manufacturing requires 40% less energy paper bags' production - according to the EPA. One of the greatest problems is that an estimated 300 million plastic bags end up in the Atlantic Ocean alone. from more than 200 respondents. Drifting debris of extremely slowly decaying . It helps when products are certified by organisations such as TV Rheinland, Germany & UKAS , United Kingdom. Plastic waste seems to be everywhere, hanging in trees, buried in sand on the beach, blowing around our legs as we walk along the street. Plastic food storage packages have toxic chemicals Studies have shown that meals that are eaten or heated in plastic bags result in the development of ulcers, asthma, obesity, and certain cancers. It isn't surprising that waste plastic bags seem to be everywhere. They eventually break down into the soil, with the unfortunate result being that animals eat them and often choke and die. Plastic Bags for Fuel When you bring a reusable bag to the grocery store, you create a ripple effect. The second edition of the Plastic Health Summit took place on October 21st 2021 in Amsterdam. And when they die and their bodies decompose, the plastic bag is released into the environment again, ready to kill something else. Plastic bag bans are taking off across the country with over 100 community bag bans or fee ordinances in place across 16 states. Plastic bags look like jellyfish to several marine species. The plastic bags in the dumpsite will normally release chemicals that seep into the ground, ending into the groundwater reservoirs. Plastic bags expose children to lung complications, 10. This is a BETA experience. 2020 Sustainable America. Grocery bag comparisons for greenhouse gas emissions; Grocery bag comparisons of environmental impact; How much plastic waste did China import? But for many organisations, their direct use of plastic is trivial compared to the use of plastic in their supply chain. This requires 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. Bashir discussed plastic problems in Africa [16]. Therefore, plastic contributes significantly to the depletion of this valuable resource, making the prices of petroleum products to rise every passing day. Unlike other waste, these bags can travel long distances overland,pushed by the wind like a tumbleweed. The problems with plastic The growing rate of plastic production raises problems in many areas of our society. One of these chemicals is Bisphenol-A (BPA). It may also affect them indirectly whey they lack food to eat after plastics have killed the organisms down in the food chain. Cities, counties,and recyclers used to spend exorbitant amounts of time and money removing plastic bags from their recyclables stream, where bags jammed machinery and added to the manual labor costs of recycling. For California, the overall cost to protect our waters from litter was roughly $428 million each year--with between 8% to 25% attributable to plastic bags alone according to clean up data from San Joseand Los Angeles County. Then, the detrimental effects of plastics would be passed through the ground to our bodies through the plants we consume and the water we drink. Disadvantages of Plastic Bags. 90% of all grocery bags are plastic. Transcript For decades, plastic bags have been staples at grocery stores. 5. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation. This chemical can also have detrimental effects on the brain. This is the time when we need to understand the serious consequences on marine life. Pellets are either manufactured into new plastic bags or plastic lumber. It has also been linked to kidney and heart complications. Plastic bags have contributed significantly to a massive pile of plastic debris found in the North Pacific Ocean. Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year. If you find yourself in possession of any type of plastic bag, be sure to clean, dry, and drop it off at the proper site. The photo shows workers detangling dozens of plastic bags from sorting equipment. Plastic bags are a huge problem. They are not biodegradable so when people throw these bags away; they will just end up piled up in pits. Moreover, studies have linked BPA to breast cancer in animals. This means their carbon footprint is lowered. Botswana's answer to the plastic bag problem When people started voicing their concern at the widespread use and disposal of plastic bags, staff and volunteers at Somarelang Tikologo, a non-governmental organisation in Botswana, decided to do something about it. This article originally appeared on Business Reporter. This is due to the sole fact that plastic is non-biodegradable. This chemical is found in plastic food cans and water bottles. The new analysis suggests that plastic bag ban policies while well-intentioned may end up having the opposite effect. There is more that could be done here to help consumers understand how sustainable packaging is and thus help them put pressure on producers and retailers. Plastic bags tend to disrupt the environment in a serious way. (Answered), Does Sulfuric Acid Conduct Electricity? Unlike other waste, these bags can travel long distances overland, pushed by the wind like a tumbleweed. When released, they eventually end up in our ecosystem through the land, water, and air pollution. The problems caused by the plastic bags still ongoing for several decades. There are major consequences if plastic bags are not disposed of properly. Plastic may affect these organisms directly when they ingest plastic toxins. While it makes plastic more useful for everyday use, this chemical contributes to serious health risks, especially when it comes in contact with food. Negative effects of plastic bags on animals. This lesson is part of the Toward a Plastic-Responsible Future unit. TheGreat Pacific Garbage Patchis one of five major accumulations of rubbish in the oceans. Additionally, a handful of County Public Health Officers have included in their Social Distancing protocols the suggestion that reusable bags be left outside of stores. (Answered), Is Urine a Pure Substance? Plastic bag food storage package have toxic chemicals: Meals that are eaten or heated in plastic bags result in the development of ulcers, asthma, obesity and certain cancer. In fact, according to a recent study, the virus may last longer on plastic than any other material. During this time, animals come in contact with the material and are at risk. Most consumers are aware of the problems with pollution that plastic bags cause. Under Senate Bill 270, also known as it's referendum ballot measure,Prop 67,prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic bags at grocery, drug, and convenience stores and requires that reusable bags have a minimum 10 cent fee. Plastic bags that make it to the proper facility are chipped into pellets. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of five major accumulations of rubbish in the oceans. These are immense masses of waste generated in the ocean due to currents. One of the first steps to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle is to eliminate plastic bags from your life. A lot of water is used in the manufacture of plastic bags, https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/harmful-effects-of-plastic-ze0z1205zsch, https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/plastic-shopping-bags-environmental-impact/, Is Sugar Water Homogeneous or Heterogeneous? Developing countries are the most affected with this problem. 100 million plastic bags are used in America each year. When the chemical bonds weaken, BPA is released and normally leaches into your food and water. Most of these bags are made from petroleum. During this time, animals come in contact with the material and are at risk. In 2014, the Earth . It takes a lot of energy to recycle plastic bags. Their digestive systems become blocked which ultimately lead to their death. Plastic bags block waterways and clog sewers, providing breeding grounds for insects like mosquitoes that in turn proliferate the risk of diseases such as malaria. "We have replaced one problem with another," Fiona Nicholls, a Greenpeace UK campaigner who is . Some 160,000 of them are used every second. They create less pollution and use less energy to create than paper bags or fabric bags. Thus, we are able to get a clear idea of why are plastic bags harmful to the environment. Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes and are either properly recycled, put in at-home curbside recycling, thrown in landfills, or littered. It remains in the land which contributes to the rising problem of land pollution. Plastic food storage packages have toxic chemicals, 5. Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00a-5:00p, UMC and Folsom Bike station Open/Closed status, More information about COVID-19 response and changes at CU Boulder, University of Colorado Boulder Regents of the University of Colorado Plastic bags kill about 100,000 animals annually. This is due to the chemicals added to plastics and then absorbed by humans, such as from water or other bottles. Plastic bags that end up in landfills or in the environment take over 1,000 years to decompose. But microplastics are a thing, and probably really bad. The bottom line: BPA plastics are dangerous to your health. In early 2013, it was reported that a recycling facility in Sacramento shut down six times a dayto remove bags from their machines. The chemicals used to make plastic bags are xylene, ethylene oxide and benzene. Photo: Plastic Ocean Project. Blowing down the street, flapping from trees, clogging storm drains (costing municipalities millions of dollars in cleanup costs), and making their way out to sea, plastic bags have been. Pellets are heated and pressurized to form a molten liquid that is formed into the plastic bags that we are so familiar with. Whales, turtles, seals and many other animals often mistake plastic bags for food, such as jellyfish. But there is a solution to this unpleasant problem. There is a need for a totally new solution: carrier bags that are truly sustainable, bags that are non-polluting, easy to recycle and fully biodegradable. Youll need about 22 gallons of water to produce one pound of plastic. As people continue to dump plastic bags into the environment, which end up into the water bodies, a 2016 Ellen MacArthur Foundations The New Plastics Economy report points out that over 8m tonnes of plastics find its way into the ocean. They are blown by the wind out of trash cans, garbage trucks and landfills,and often do not stop until they reach a stream, river or the ocean. This is attributed to the fact that plastic bags have some chemicals that will mix with the meal when heated. We invite you to contact local officials in your area and urge them to implement the Model Grocery Store Protocol adopted in Mendocino County (page 13) and elsewhere to promote the continued safe use of reusable bags. Unfortunately most of the plastic is not recycled and ends up in landfill, in nature or in waterways where they kill wildlife and marine life. Now, the single-use bag ban is fully implemented statewide and communities that previously didn't have a plastic bag ordinance are seeing the benefits that the statewide single-use plastic bag ban has brought. Plastics have been. To contact us please leave amessage at 303-492-8308 or emailecenter@colorado.edu For example, controlling the use of plastic in offices and factories is relatively achievable and simple to measure. It will be a long time before plastic bags go the way of the dinosaurs, so we are encouraged to learn of a new technology aimed at turning plastic bags into transportation fuels such as diesel and gasoline, and into other high-value products such as natural gas, waxes, and lubricating oils. The biobags can be dissolved in water at 80C (which means, of course, that they wont dissolve in a rain shower). Ocean pollution like plastic bags kills 100,000 marine animals and over 267 species annually. If burned, plastic bags will release harmful chemicals which are not only hazardous to our health, but damaging to the ozone layer as well. But many scientists feel that, because they use more resources in their manufacture, and because they are not used very many times, they do little to increase sustainability and may even havea negative effect. Often store employees are instructed to separate different types of products in different bags or use a bag for only one or two items. Hawaii is currently the only state in the nation to adopt a full statewide ban. As the plastic breaks down, microplastics are leached into our soil and water. Waste and plastic pollution We go through 10 billion plastic bags worldwide every week CUSG|Division of Student Affairs Currently, the majority of plastic bags are recycled into composit lumber, which is used for decking, door and window frames, park benches and the like. That means another animal may ingest it and eventually suffer the same consequences. Massive accumulations of plastic bags block drainage systems, Causes, Effects and Solutions of Ozone Layer Depletion, 7. Nearly half of all plastic products are discarded after a single use and take up to 1000 years to disintegrate. If animals eat plastic carrier bags they can die. Because for us, there's no doubt about it: environmental health and human health are inextricably linked. Click here to find out if your city/county is exempt from the Governors order.). By 2050, the oceans will have more waste plastics than fish, 15. NRDC estimated that every year previous to the statewide single-use plastic bag ban,California cities spent about $11 per resident to keep litter from ending up in our oceans as marine pollution. ELIMINATING PLASTIC BAGS FROM YOUR LIFE REDUCES OIL EXTRACTION! Plastic bags are made from petroleum products, 4. Bags such asEarthnests biobags,which are 100 per cent free of plastic and toxins. Every item that we throw away was made from natural resources such as water, wood, oil, and energy. The company produces sustainable bags and sheeting made from starch and other natural products. SB 270 was signed into law in 2014, but soon afterwards was challenged by out of state plastic bag manufacturers who intended to repeal the law by running a deceptive campaign after gathering enough signatures to qualify the measure for a referendum vote in 2016. By some estimates nearly 12 million barrels of petroleum oil (or fuel equivalents such as natural gas) are used to produce 100 billion plastic bags. Unfortunately, while the sustainability of many consumer products is shown with a certification (organic food, for instance, is certified by the Soil Association), the packaging is rarely marked with anything beyond whether or not it is recycled and recyclable. Earthnest is one organisation helping consumers achieve a more sustainable future. Another reason to ban plastic bags is that they never break down. It takes 700 years to start breaking down, and when it does degrade, it just crumbles into small particles of plastic particles that are still poisonous but that are easy to breathe in or ingest. Consumers have another role to play as well: educating their children about sustainability and the importance of behaving sustainably and buying products that are produced and packaged sustainably. This process injects a mixture of water and chemicals into rock formations to release oil and gas. Pledge to stop idling, and get materials to start an anti-idling campaign in your community. Left in the soil, they degrade completely in a few months, leaving no poisonous residue. But unfortunately most biodegradable plastic bags can still beintact and usable after three yearsburied in the soil. Why Are Plastic Bags Bad For The Planet? It also means that they do not pollute the environment in any way. The advent of plastic bags has brought more comfort, especially in the packing of the goods, but to this point are plastic bags is an environmental problem and many countries are looking for ways to remove it. Following a workshop at which government authorities, These products are 100 per cent plastic-free, containing no polyolefin plastic at all. Ban the Bag! Plastic bags have a wide range of advantages but the list of disadvantages that it has is somewhat never ending. And many of us look for more sustainable alternatives. While the recyclable symbol of three arrows in a circle is on many plastic shopping bags in the US, it often is a marketing trick. That's five trillion bags a year. Three: the most influential decision you can make to reduce your plastic consumption as an individual . Once a plastic bag has been made, used and disposed of, it doesnt simply break down into harmless components. The alluring beauty of nature is also depleted through inappropriate means of plastic disposal. Internationally, 19 countries from Bangladesh to Ireland have passed bans. Production of plastic takes 60-100 million barrels of oil from the worlds petroleum reserves. Stories, tips and solutions from Sustainable America in your inbox, plus roundups of the latest food and fuel news. Their survey indicated that the plastic bags are most abundantly used plastic material.They recommended use of non plastic bags made up of clothes. The Problem With Plastic Bags Plastic bags start out as fossil fuels and end up as deadly waste in landfills and the ocean. Importantly, they also provide an oxygen barrier. Club; . They also. Do your part to make reusable bags the new norm! Plastic bags dont only pollute our water sources, they also take a lot of water from these sources during their production. Are your reusable bags compliant with the California bag ban? to deal with the global plastics problem. Based on this information, an estimated 34 million to 107 million dollars was spent each year prior to the statewide single use plastic bag ban to manage plastic bag litter in the state. A total of 300 million tons of toxic plastic waste is produced every year. Birds often mistake shredded plastic bags for food, filling their stomachs with toxic debris. Studies have also shown that people who have excessive amounts of BPA in their system are more prone to various serious health issues such as diabetes, liver toxicity, and heart disease. They still cause pollution and the death of animals. Massive accumulation of plastic bags . Given what we know about both fossil fuel scarcity and the detrimental impacts of fossil fuel extraction and use on the environment, it is truly a travesty to so carelessly waste this limited and valuable resource. At these refineries, petroleum is separated to allow the right oil to be singled out for plastic production. The problem is that virgin plasticnew resin created from natural gas or oilis so cheap to make that it undermines the economics of the recycling market. Five hundred followed by . As with most sustainability issues, there is no singular answer. Regional Coastal Cleanup Day data and stories from community leaders, Local Bag Ban Ordinances prior to upholding SB270, National Bag Ban Ordinances (last updated 3/9/2018). According to the World Health Organization, when pregnant women are exposed to high concentrations of Phthalates and BPA, which are chemical compounds found in plastic, they may give birth to children with lung problems. Over decades or even centuries, much of that littered and landfilled plastic breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastics, which contaminate our food, the air, and water. The more reusable bags are seen in grocery stores, the more people will follow suit and make the switch! Company sustainability policies on the use of plastics will not be delivered through superficial moves, such as only using biodegradable plastics or buying carbon credits. This huge biodegradation time leads to a buildup of more and more plastic bags in our landfills [6]. Plastic bags and other debris litter a beach. On land plastic bags are consumed by animals, just like in the ocean. An average family will use 60 plastic bags on four visits to the supermarket. Plastic bag bans are taking off across the country with over 100 community bag bans or fee ordinances in place across 16 states. Plastic Bag Pollution by Sharon Jacobsen Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Throwing of plastic bags in open areas is a major problem as it eventually gets into the seas and oceans through drains and flowing water bodies. [17] Consequently, a growing number of cities and. That means youll never live to see the decomposition of plastic. The whole organisation needs to be measured for sustainability. ethylene is predominantly obtained by either crude oil or natural gas, which must be extracted from our Earth. And if an animal finds and eats one of these products before it has broken down, it wont be harmed as the products are made of completely natural and non-toxic ingredients. The manufacture of plastic bags uses cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and vinyl hydrochloride, and the toxic by-products pollute our air, water and soil. According to Penn State University, Americans throw away 100 billion plastic grocery bags every year, with only 1-3% of plastic bags being recycled annually.They are a major part of the global plastic waste problem.. Toxic chemicals are released during plastic manufacturing, 6. Hemp Plastic: Features, Uses and Benefits, 25 Phenomenal Facts About the Water Cycle, Copyright 2022 Earth Eclipse . The videos of the event are now available on our Youtube channel.Hear from the speakers about the connection between plastic particles, plastic additives and . Privacy Policy . When you buy something, like foodstuff or clothes, the shopkeeper will normally pack them for you in a shopper bag. About Us, 3. According to the New York University School of Medicine, this problem contributes heavily in the outbreak of childhood obesity and diabetes. Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. This is because its harmful effects dont spare any animal or plant in the food chain, ranging from large terrestrial animals to microscopic plankton. Remember that each person uses about 83 bags a year. Once in our waterways, they do not biodegrade, but instead break apart into smaller pieces and soak up toxins. 11898, which requires enterprises (producers of products generating plastic packaging waste with total assets of P100 million or more) to develop and implement an EPR program and collect plastic packaging. A good example of this impact is the floods that hit Bangladesh about two decades ago. These are toxic chemicals that are sources of various diseases as well as disorders in humans. Instead, you'll need to find a drop-off recycling location. Ethylene is extracted, treated to become a polymer, and polyethylene is created. It is simply less expensive to. However, rubbish is only part of the problem. While the Governors executive order in no way prohibits reusable bags, some stores have taken this step on their own. Plastic is often dumped directly into the seas or gets there from rivers. When it comes to reducing pollution, most people are eager to do what they can. If we smarten up and start to value those products in the same way we do our raw natural materials, we could truly transform our world. The amount of plastic in surface waters is not very well known: estimates range from 10,000s to 100,000s . This, of course, is the best-case scenario. Though recycling used plastic bags considerably decreases the quantity of waste that is going to landfills. Is switching to reusable bags really making that much of a difference? In the United States alone, it is estimated that 12 million barrels of oil are used annually to make plastic bags [1]. Raw oil and gas are transported through pipes to a refinery after extraction. Decline the bag. (No. And it seems likely that most BPA-free plastics offer little, if any, improvement. And fewer than 3 per cent are recycled. Its three times the size of France and its mainly composed of plastic 100,000 tons of it. Studies on animals have revealed that high doses of BPA have the potential to undermine reproductive development and functions. Plastics in the Ocean from Teach the Earth discusses plastics in the ocean, how this affects human health, how the toxins enter the food chain, prevention, and the role humans play. Two out of three sea turtles are found with plastic in their gut. Ultimately, these bags are simply too expensive to recycle. Plastic pollution disrupts the natural food chain, 14. Unfortunately, these types of plastic bags have a tendency to get caught in recycling facility machinery, hindering the recycling process and causing more harm than good. On July 22, 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. The Plastic Bag Problem: An article from Mother Earth News discussing the problems of plastic bags, the problems with plastic bag recycling, and how to go plastic free. As the plastic breaks down, microplastics are leached into our soil and water. It doesn't biodegrade, it photo-degrades. Plastic cannot be digested properly and hence will accumulate in the stomach leading to the animals death. Kevin Wehr (2010) observes that "Environment groups estimate that between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year." (p. 352). Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags are worse than the original problem. NAGS HEAD - Bucking the wishes of nearly every local entity that keeps the communities' wheels turning and the tourism machinery humming, a bill to repeal a ban on flimsy plastic grocery bags on the Outer Banks is still alive in some dark corner of the North Carolina General Assembly. Their lightweight composition makes them easily blown-about, which means that although they might start in garbage cans, they often end up somewhere else entirely. It also stinks up resuable bags so bad you may decide to dump the very environmentally unfriendly reusable bag. Below, we'll examine a few of the most significant problems they cause and discuss the extent of the problem. This is the most common way that plastic bags end up creating a menace to the environment. So what about so-called Bags for Life? San Josehad previously estimated an annual loss of $1 million each year due to plastic bag related repairs in their facilities. They use the "Sea to Source: Ganges" river expedition to learn about ways that people are trying to solve the problems plastic creates. Plastic bags that end up in at-home curbside recycling end up tangled in sorting equipment. The oil is then superheated and pressurized to isolate pure polyethylene chains. They get into soil and slowly release toxic chemicals. Plastic bag bans hurt small business owners disproportionately through the immediate costs of alternative bags, as well as the unseen cost of regulatory compliance. All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy. Results indicate that though conventional plastic bags tend to have higher environmental impacts when released into the environment, when compared to alternatives (such as compostable bioplastic, paper, thick plastic, and oxo-degradable plastic bags), they appear to have the least overall environmental impact (except as litter). Surprisingly enough the use of such a large amount of plastic bags is not problematic at all but rather the disposal of the same once it has achieved or completed the intended use or task. A plastic bag remains toxic even after it degrades - it breaks down into very small toxic bits of itself and as such contaminates the environment. . EARTHNEST has the answer to the plastic bags problem. These are strong plastic carrier bags, designed to be used many times. Moreover, paper bag production seems to generate 70% more air pollution and 50% more air pollution in comparison to plastic bags. move away from the very concepts of single-use and waste., Meet an Eco-Creator: Jhnneu Roberts, Making Eco-Living Intentional and Stylish, Greening a home and the next generation in Wisconsin. Sea Wildlife often mistakes these plastics and microplastics as food. Another Plastic Problem: Some Humans Are Eating It Another significant health issue involves the direct ingestion of plastic by consumers, thanks to the quantity of plastic now adrift in the ocean. Not only this but also it adds significantly to the release of greenhouse gases. This discrepancy is known as the 'missing plastic problem' and is discussed h e re. Ultimately, CAW and those who partnered with us to uphold the bag ban in the Yes on 67 campaign prevailed. This action can start to feel arbitrary. Take the sea, for instance. I think you have to use the fabric bags like several hundred times to equal using a similar amount of plastic bags. Additionally, Southern California cities estimated to have spent in excess of $1.7 billion in meeting Total Maximum Daily Loads for trashed in impaired waterways. As with most environmental issues, the plastic bag problem is not as simple as it seems. 207 UCB, UMC 355, Boulder, CO 80309-0207 This article is here to remind those who have eliminated plastic bags from their life that YES, it makes a big difference; and to encourage those who havent eliminated plastic bags from their life why it is important to do so. Otherwise, you will be ingesting a lot of toxic substances. Plastic bags result in the pollution of groundwater, 13. Earthnest sheeting and biobags are waterproof and oil-resistant. And these bags are 100 per cent biodegradable and pollution-free. Moreover, childrens exposure to these chemicals has been associated with increased insulin resistance and high blood pressure. If the next generation is informed about how they can help to protect the planet by shopping sustainably, then perhaps humanity will have a better future. Because of the truth that plastic bags are not biodegradable, they usually exist in landfills and oceans. Because they are extremely light and aerodynamic, it is very hard to contain them - they usually escape with the wind. While plastics deteriorate into fragments easily through wear and tear, their polymer chains only break down into other smaller components at very high temperatures, such as during some chemical recycling processes. The focus was about One Health. While the use of reusable grocery bags has never been linked to any virus transmission, we have no objection to the intent of these actions--store employees should not be handling customer provided reusable bags at this time. While the best option would be to decline a bag altogether, the second best option, when it's unavoidable, is to recycle the bags you use. University of Colorado Environmental Center Many animals, including whales, dolphins, turtles, penguins, and dolphins, ingest plastic bags as they mistake them food. Ignoring the microplastics issue, plastic bags are better for the environment. Earthnest products (Bio Bags)are certified as Biodegradable byTV Rheinland(Germany)and UKAS (United Kingdom). Previous to California's single-use plastic bag ban, the state used between 13 and 20 billion of . Thats not the end of it though. The grocery stores' plastic-footprint increase was caused in part by the reusable plastic bags. These children may also be at high risk of developing asthma later in life. Here are 4 Ways to Reduce the Waste of Plastic Bags: Decline the bag . This slows the recycling process, damages or breaks recycling equipment, and puts workers at risk of harm. Weve seen that Bisphenol-A is a chemical compound that is used in the manufacture of plastic bags. To achieve holistic sustainability, organisations need to examine their end-to-end use of plastic, encouraging their suppliers to move towards plastic-free operations for instance, by substituting plastic wrapping for natural wrappings such as Earthnests, which are made of vegetable starch. Recycling is easy too. 500,000,000,000. Humans are also vulnerable because we eat . It isnt surprising that waste plastic bags seem to be everywhere. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. is coming for your bags and bottles . TS gripe about frozen products is still valid though, Fishy water makes for a very unpleasant travel experience. Plastic bags are an especial problem for a few reasons: Because they're cheap and easy, we use them indiscriminately, certainly much more than we need to. These polymers could take up to 1,000 years to decompose fully. The Ocean Conservancy recently deemed plastic bags as the #2 deadliest threat to sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Plastic takes thousands of years to break down and decompose. But with trillions of new plastic bags entering the waste stream every year, this cannot be the only solution. Even worse, the ingested plastics will remain intact even after the dead animal decomposes. This is because they were not collected in curbside recycling, and have an low recycling value. While plastic bags are technically recyclable, they usually can't be recycled in your curbside bin. On April 23rd, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to lift the 10 cent charge on single-use bags, effective for 60 days. Biodegradable plastic bags might seem to be an answer. Plastic industry groups like to remind us that compared to the paper bag alternative, plastic. Hawaii is currently the only state in the nation to adopt a full statewide ban. 3.8 percent of the greenhouse gas liberation is a consequence of plastic usage. These properties make them perfect for packaging food such as meat and vegetables. Plastic bags, as noted by environmentalists, are among the main causes of nature degradation. California voters approved the referendum vote of SB 270 by a 53.27% affirmative vote, proving that our environmental values can't be bought out by out of state special interest groups. This means they CAN NOT be put in at-home curbside recycling. However, when customers and store employees follow best practices as outlined in recent CAL-OSHA Health and safety guidance for grocery stores, the use of reusable bags is safe, and beneficial (environmentally and economically). Lightweight, single-use plastic bags are a unique threat to the environment. On land, plastic bags are one of the most common types of litter worldwide. There are major consequences if plastic bags are not disposed of properly. Part of this involves making sure that they are buying products from manufacturers and retailers that take sustainability seriously. Single-use plastic straws, cutlery and cotton buds will be among items banned from Tuesday 31 Oct 2022 Wax worm saliva rapidly breaks down plastic bags, scientists discover Its enzymes degrade. 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