Some of the harmful effects of plastic bags:

1) Plastic bags litter the landscape : Every year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets.

2) Plastic bags kill animals : About 100,000 animals such as Dolphins, Turtles, Whales, Penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food and therefore die.

3) Plastic bags are non-biodegradable : And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags are that they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.

4) Petroleum is required to produce plastic bags : Since we have been using this non-renewable resource increasingly for our requirements like - Factories , transport etc. The whole world grinding to a half , if the supply of petroleum were be turnoff.

Some of the harmful effects of plastic pollution are highlighted below:

Generally, use of plastic is more prevalent in rural areas and hence, plastic pollution has longer lasting effects in these areas. This is primarily because rural areas do not have proper systems in place to dispose plastic. This high use of plastic, unfortunately, leads to death of animals, who unknowingly consume the poorly disposed plastic bags and bottles. Also, during rains, the plastic fallen on roads gets washed into nearby water reservoirs and storm drains. The plastic that find its way into drains tends to block the drains and this provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Whereas, plastic that in water reservoirs tends to slowly contaminate the water, which is supplied to homes and farms for drinking and irrigation.

As plastic decomposes slowly, it tends to release toxic chemical compounds like bisphenol A, styrene trimer and a by-product of plystyrene. Bisphenol A is known to wreak havoc with the reproductive system of animals. Once plastic finds its way into water, the slow degradation poses a great risk to marine life and aquatic birds. At times, marine animals get entangled in the dumped plastic and slowly die. When smaller pieces of plastic are consumed by marine life and other animals, they can choke and suffocate on it.

Today, realizing the harmful effects of plastic pollution, governments are taking measures to ban plastic bags. Also, measures are being taken to recycle plastic to prevent dumping and poor disposal. Many recycled plastic items that are currently available in the market biodegradable. Also, there is a ban in several places on burning plastic as the noxious fumes.

Ways to Reduce Plastic in Landfills

1) Avoid Products that use Plastic to Begin With

Plastic is made from petroleum hence it is so ubiquitous today. Plastic is convenient but most of the

cheaper grades (the clear stuff) find its way into our food, often leaving a film on anything that is wrapped

in it and which we then eat. Microwaving anything in plastic cooks plastic residues right into the food,

vaporizing other chemicals that contaminate the food and air. Consider the amount of sheer waste a

single meal or even serving produces (Kraft Singles is second only to Individually Wrapped Breaths of Air

™ in the Most Wasteful Products Award). Reuse glass or Tupperware containers for leftovers instead of

plastic wrap. Store water in the high grade blue plastic bottles only. Prefer cheese that is made from raw

milk.

2) Kick the Bottle

High on the list of most wasteful products is Individually Wrapped Drinks of Water, a lingering 1990′s fad

for those pretending to be health conscious. Picture a lake compared to a lake of plastic bottles and that

is basically what we now have in the Pacific. Corporations are taking over town aquifers and selling it

back to the people for $2 per bottle. Shipping one bottle of water costs on average 1/3 bottle of fuel. It is

best to filter or distill your own water and use metal or glass containers. Companies like Nalgene make

trendy reusable water containers of high grade plastic. Opt for tap water with lemon in restaurants. Note:

wait staff seem trained to always supply a plastic straw with every drink (probably so you don’t notice the

lipstick on the rim of the glass), so remember to request no straw with your drink.

3) Recycle or Reuse Materials

Plastic can be recycled and you will find that when you start recycling you at least save money on trash

bags. Many containers can be washed out and reused (though they should be sterilized with apple cider

vinegar). Note that only the higher grade plastics can be reused.

4) Choose Products with Biodegradable Plastic

Now many plastic cups along with packaging peanuts and other supplies are available in a biodegradable

form. Companies like Ecosafe and Natur-Tec are providing real solutions to the plastic problem.

5) Repair, Sell or Upgrade Gadgets

Many people run out and buy the latest new cell phone or iPod more often than needed, discarding their

old phones in the rubbish where they not only add to plastic landfill but also leak out various other

contaminants like Mercury. Meanwhile older components, while larger, are often superior as they tend to

be constructed of much more solid materials. By repairing your items you can keep things in top shape

much longer. Tackle small problems when they arise. Take the time to fix things right. Buy used products

when possible and sell your items when they are no longer needed. Prefer products that offer

replacement parts.

6) Recycle Computer Parts

If you must discard items like monitors or printers, at least take them to an electronics recycler. Staples

accepts old monitors, etc. for a small fee.

7) Use Cloth Grocery Bags

While this is more of a challenge for men as they look like pocketbooks, it is important to avoid bringing

home so many plastic bags. Cloth bags can help. Some shoppers at the farmers market seem afraid to let

any vegetables touch any other vegetables, insisting that each be individually wrapped. A better method

is to use as few bags as possible, to reuse those taken, recycle them when they tear, and especially to

avoid using them to begin with by bringing your own bag. Eventually this will save money as stores are

considering charging for them.

8) Do Sweat the Small Stuff

the worst pieces of plastic are the tiny bits. These are the ones that birds, turtles and fish mistake for food

and eat and then can’t pass them. Eventually these poor animals become full of plastic and they die of

starvation, or they are consumed by larger animals and the process continues. After these animals die,

the plastic is the only part that is left behind where it kills again.

9) Don’t be a Litter Bug

many feel that if they don’t litter, they will be putting the garbage man out of a job. Some will simply chuck

their used car batteries (full of sulfuric acid) into the woods behind their home. The truth is that this debris

will persist for decades and humans leave enough of a footprint without adding insult to injury. In the

1970′s there were TV commercials with Woodsy Owl reminding us to “Give a Hoot Don’t Pollute”. In

today’s corporate controlled media the best we get is talk about the Carbon Tax. Even the threat of

Nuclear War is brushed aside by the media in favor of the War on Drugs, the War on Terror, and the War

on Manners.

10) Clean up your Neighborhood Ponds

Many neighborhoods have small ponds containing water that is cleaner than their municipal tap water.

These ponds are often teeming with fish and turtles that help keep them pure. Sadly however these

ponds (and wildlife) are normally loaded with plastic debris. By taking 15 minutes each week, one person

can really help clean up their neighborhood. The process is surprisingly relaxing and the animals will

appreciate it. Do note that random passerby will think you are out on parole, so wearing an orange

jumpsuit is not recommended. Ideally, organize a neighborhood trash pickup (nowadays that may require

legal waivers in case participants obtain a boo boo)

 here are the facts:

1. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out

to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.

2. According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each

year.

3. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually.

(Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)

4. According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20 billion bags a year—900

per person.

5. According to Australia’s Department of Environment, Australians consume 6.9 billion plastic bags

each year—326 per person. An estimated .7% or 49,600,000 end up as litter each year.

6. Over 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles worldwide are killed by plastic rubbish every year

7. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic

bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest.

8. According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags have gone

“from being rare in the late 80s and early 90s to being almost everywhere from Spitsbergen 78° North

[latitude] to Falklands 51° South [latitude].

Plastic Bag Consumption Tax

Breaking the Plastic Bag Habit

Promoting Eco-Friendly Alternative