It’s no surprise states across the nation are starting to ban single-use plastic bags in large retail locations. Considering even the most obvious drawbacks to these types of containers and materials, it’s relieving to know states and countries around the world are stepping in.
Starting with California in 2016, several states have banned single-use plastic bags based on voter determination. More recently, Michigan became the seventh. Here are just three of the countless benefits a ban on plastic shopping bags can give us.
- Create Cleaner Water and Land
This advantage is the first one most people think about when they consider the plastic bag ban, and for good reason. Americans use about 102.1 billion plastic bags every year, and that’s just our country. These bags are the second most common type of waste material coastal cleanup crews find.
Because plastic bags are typically lightweight, they can travel impressive distances with the wind. They end up caught up on fences and trees and floating in bodies of water, eventually landing in the world’s oceans. Fewer of them means less water and land in dire need of cleanup. Plastic bag bans could improve the environment and make it a healthier place to live, while also enhancing the aesthetic value of our land and water.
- Protect the Health of Wildlife, Marine Life and Humans
Animals, birds and marine life like fish and sea turtles often mistake plastic materials like shopping bags for food. After they consume plastic, their digestive systems get congested, which often leads to infections and death by suffocation. As if that isn’t enough damage, the plastic bags frequently entangle different creatures, which can injure them in a variety of ways or even kill them.
Even plastic bags made to be recycled eventually end up in landfills and oceans, and just like non-recycled options, they are usually not biodegradable, which means they pose similar risks. On the human side of things, it’s crucial to remember how the food chain works before assuming humans are free from ingesting any plastic products.
- Reduce Energy Use and Other Expenses
Think about the last time you or someone you know used a plastic bag. The functional life of the container didn’t last very long, did it? However long it took to drive from the store to the groceries’ final destination is usually also the lifespan of a bag’s usability. But the production of these bags costs us great amounts of energy and money. Total production costs of the bags, including petroleum, are nothing to ignore. The fewer bags we consume, the fewer exhaustible resources are used up.
Downsides to This New Legislation
While the positives are undeniable, some people see a few downsides to legislation that bans the use of plastic bags. These problems are often largely partisan, and states like Florida, Arizona and others have preemptively banned the ban on plastic bags. One of the primary negatives cited among those who are against the ban is that it will hurt businesses, costing them extra money for alternative materials like grocery baskets and from shoplifting that occurs with reusable bags.
Instead of banning all plastic bags outright, some places in and outside of the United States are providing thicker, reusable plastic bags that are recyclable, instead of immediately ending up in landfills. The result hasn’t always been ideal. In fact, many consumers are just ignoring the purpose of the change and using these recyclable shopping bags one time before trashing them.
Some changes, like small fees for plastic bags to deter consumers from using them as often, are hoped to start to remedy the issue of pollution and environmental damage. No matter what state you live in, you should know about the legislation, bans, fees, taxes, requirements and recycling programs in your area.
Making the Right Changes
We’ve learned not every decision we make for the environment is the most convenient one for ourselves. Plastic bags of any variety aren’t great for our planet or any creatures living on it, and one of the biggest changes starts with consumers. Cut down on your use and encourage others to avoid the use of plastic bags too.
Some states are making positive changes, while others are lagging behind, but no matter where you live, you can help to implement the right practices. Eco-friendly changes can be effective in policy, but they’re even more so in practice from shoppers. Start showing your support for a clean and healthy environment for all by dropping those bags!
This Women of Green guest blog is by Megan Ray Nichols. Megan writes about many environmental topics including, renewable energy, conservation and sustainability. She invites you to join the discussion on her own blog, Schooled By Science.
Women of Green is TURNING UP THE VOLUME of the feminine voice on the planet in order to create the world we know is possible.