Will banning plastic bags help?
Yes! According to Wired, "San Jose's plastic bag ban led to an 89 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags found in storm drains." This means that banning the use of plastic bags will decrease our impact on the environment. An alternative method is plastic bag fees, "Washington, DC's government estimates that its 5-cent bag tax has led to a 60 percent reduction in the number of these bags being used" (Ben Adler, Wired). Bans and taxes will reduce the amount of plastic bags we use every day. Hopefully, as an American citizen, we'll see more bans on plastic bags.
Plastic Vs Paper
One of the arguments between environmentalists is plastic vs. paper. Although plastic bans help, the paper has a bigger carbon footprint than plastic. "...paper bags have a higher carbon footprint than plastic. That's primarily because more energy is required to produce and transport paper bags." (Ben Adler, Wired) Because paper is more sturdy and harder to produce in factories, the paper has a bigger carbon footprint. Although this is true, there is a better alternative than paper. The most suitable option as an alternative to plastic is bringing your own bags. These bags are universally reusable, don't contain plastic or paper and you don't have to carry as many bags into your house. These bags overall, benefit you and our environment.
How can YOU help?
Our environment is in a state of crisis with climate change, animal endangerment, and plastic waste. We can help by banning the use of plastic bags, putting taxes on plastic, bringing your own bags into the shop, and recycling the plastics you have in your home. Educate others about this issue and hold yourself accountable. This issue will only continue to destroy our Earth. We only have ONE.
Citations:
Adler, Ben. "Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast." Wired, Conde Nast, 3 June 2017, www.wired.com/2016/06/banning-plastic-bags-great-world-right-not-fast/.
"Plastic Waste." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/HPIFHC438494670/OVIC?u=tel_k_gibbs&sid=OVIC&xid=e66f3c95. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020
"Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags." Green Acton, 13 Feb. 2019, greenacton.org/2018/02/13/reasons-to-ban-plastic-bags/.
YOU ARE READING
Our Enemy: Plastic
No FicciónThis is a Journalistic essay meant to educate readers about our biggest issue: plastic waste.
