Time to Ban Plastic Bags? Think Again — An editorial
Do you recall the campaign aimed at getting rid of plastic straws?
While it
hasn’t
We resolved our significant plastic issue; this pivotal milestone helped shift how people perceive disposable products.
As the federal government is reducing climate and environmental protections instead of strengthening them, it falls upon individuals to continue the battle.
On Earth Day, observed on April 22, let’s progress further by cutting down our consumption of plastic shopping bags.
Americans use more than
100 billion single-use plastic shopping bags annually
On average, we utilize each bag for about 12 minutes prior to disposing of it. These bags subsequently embark on a protracted journey lasting possibly as long as 1,000 years during which they can congest landfills, infiltrate coastal areas, and contaminate ecosystems—and human bodies.
Paper or plastic?
The truth is that both fall short.
In fact,
in an analysis
When evaluating the complete environmental effects of manufacturing and transporting plastic compared to paper bags, studies indicated that paper bags consume four times the energy and produce 70% higher levels of air contaminants along with generating 50 times more water pollution.
Various studies have concluded that “cotton tote bags have the most adverse environmental effects among all bag types,” consuming significant portions of land, water, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and energy for cultivation and transportation purposes.
a piece from the Columbia Climate School
.
It should be noted that these studies do not take into account the issues related to littering or how the bags degrade in the natural environment. Plastic poses the greatest concern here because it disintegrates into microplastics that have been
observed to be present in the atmosphere, water, soil, and ultimately within our bodies
with unspecified health impacts, although research
have begun to suggest
They might be associated with increased incidences of specific types of cancer and fertility issues.
Heavier plastic bags now offered for sale at grocery stores might be more effective, yet this holds true solely if these thicker bags are utilized between five to twenty times as opposed to using a single-use plastic bag, according to a report commissioned for the
United Nations Environmental Programme
In 2020, the issue was that these items were still very affordable in stores, giving customers minimal motivation to make an effort to reuse them.
That’s why plastic bag prohibitions, even though they come from good intentions, might occasionally
have negative consequences
Moreover, Ohio has imposed a prohibition on cities banning plastic bags.
As shoppers, we have the power to push lawmakers and stores to introduce a mandatory discount for those who use their own bags at checkout.
However, in this battle, we must alter our behaviors to make a difference.
What can be done?
In terms of carrying groceries, all three principles of environmentalism – reduce, reuse, and recycle – come into play. However, the principle that often receives the most attention turns out to be the least impactful in practice.
Local grocery stores and locations nationwide have bins intended for dropping off recyclable bags. However, during a recent probe conducted by
ABC News
Less than 10% of the bags deposited in these containers ultimately reached a recycling facility. The majority ended up being disposed of in landfills, with some even being transported abroad.
Using plastic bags repeatedly for grocery shopping or repurposing them as garbage bag liners, pet waste disposals, or alternative uses substantially diminishes their environmental impact. Opting for durable reusable bags, such as sturdier plastic ones, can also be advantageous provided these are utilized multiple times over.
But
researchers say
The most effective remedy is utilizing what you already possess and making use of it repeatedly. Put simply, cut down on your overall usage of bags.
It could involve taking some dusty tote bags from the back of your closet and keeping them in your vehicle for errands, or perhaps utilizing old cardboard boxes to carry your groceries instead.
This is just a tiny leap forward, yet it has the potential to ignite further creativity in decreasing dependence on disposable products and motivate others to follow suit. By discontinuing the usage of grocery bags, switching from plastic wraps to reusable glass containers, replacing paper towels with washable cloth ones—there are numerous alternatives available.
The issue with plastics is expanding rapidly at a pace mostly beyond the reach of individual shoppers. Achieving significant progress requires collaboration from businesses. However, concentrating on what we do have power over can be influential, potentially signaling to corporations and policymakers that customers are prepared to alter their consumption behaviors.
This article was penned by Theresa Bennett, who serves as the Opinion and Community Engagement Editor at the Akron Beacon Journal, on behalf of the newspaper’s editorial board.
the Beacon Journal.
Editorials provide factual analyses of significant community issues. They do not represent the views of our reporting team, whose aim is to remain neutral in their coverage.
The article initially appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal.
It’s time to say goodbye to plastic bags — however, the situation is more complex than you might assume | Opinion Piece