The environmental consequences of plastic bag use can be seen across all realms of earth. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. This means that the average american family gets 1,500 bags from shopping trips. The environmental impact of all types of carrier bag is dominated by resource use. In order to reduce the problems associated with plastic bag wastes, it is recommended to educate the public 1 not to use plastic bags, and 2 to use ecofriendly. We use them every day in our homes, schools, offices, and during our travels in between places. Impact of national bans and levies on plastic bag usage. Correlation and regression techniques research fellow, szabist were used to test the. Danger to animal life, especially when they find their way into the sea. Heres how plastic bags impact the environment youtube. The harmful effects of plastic on aquatic life are devastating, and accelerating. On average, 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Plastic bags are one of the most objectionable types of litter in urban areas.
However, it is now clear that plastic bags play a role in polluting the environment and impacts on the environment negatively due to poor and prolonged degradation process. In this article, youll learn the different facts about plastic and paper bags, the benefits of reusables and some tips to make the most out of your reusable bags. Reusable plastic bags are being introduced to regions that want to outlaw the. Assessment of impacts of options to reduce the use of singleuse. Environmental impacts at eu level of a waste prevention target of 35 singleuse.
The production and use of plastic grocery bags have several important political impacts. Additionally, plastic bags can get caught on plants, preventing them from getting the light or nutrients they need. Our modern world has become so dependent on the convenience of massproduced, readily available plastic products like disposable bags, bottles, and cups that its surprising to consider that the world was once plasticfree. Why are plastic grocery bags bad for the environment. The impact of plastic bags on the environment greentumble.
The plastic with its worst impact on our community and environment is the one that we use and throw, such as water bottles, plastic bags, sachets, pouches or other packaging. Iv bags and tubing alone constitute up to 25% of hospital waste. It is said that people began to use plastic bags to carry groceries and goods by. Due to the problems associated with singleuse plastic bags and following signing of legislation related to plastic bags1, governor cuomo convened the new york state plastic bag task force in february 2017 to develop a report and proposed legislation to address the detrimental impact of. Such plastic garbage when comes in contact with soil, air and water, it contaminates them all as it is not biodegradable. For example, whales and sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for squid, and birds often mistake plastic pellets for fish eggs. The world seems to be suffocating under endless piles of plastic bags and we need to act as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the environment and ourselves. Specifically, i look at how plastic bags affect oceans via. Because western nations have infrastructures that are able to deal well with waste and recycling, these nations generally do not feel the same effects of plastic bags on the environment. Effect of plastic grocery bags on environment and its reuse. Assessment of impacts of options to reduce the use of singleuse plastic carrier bags 5 3. Of this, 50% is for disposable applications such as packaging. Taiwan has banned both plastic bags and plastic utensils.
In the marine environment, the most well documented impacts are entanglement and ingestion by wildlife. Many animals, including whales, dolphins, turtles, penguins, and dolphins, ingest plastic bags as they mistake them food. Studies show that alternatives which seem greener actually place a greater burden on the environment because they require more natural resources to produce and transport, they emit more carbon throughout their lifecycles and they need more energy to. Plastic bags and its impact in our environmentplastic bags are one of the most common items we see when we go shopping or buy food at the supermarket. Three of the most common singleuse products that we use on a daily basis are. The real reason that the worlds landfills werent overflowing with plastic was because most of it ended up in an ocean fill. The usage of plastic is increasing exponentially from the last century. The delicate natural cycles that balance ecosystems are being put into jeopardy. Environment agency to protect and restore our environment. In this our changing climate environmental video essay, i look at the environmental impact of plastic bags. While some of the loudest voices are proponents of a ban on plastic bags, there is evidence that shows these bans have negative effects on the economy and the environment. Most of our knowledge is around plastic waste in the marine environment, although there. Moreover, a study of 38 green turtles found that 61 percent had ingested some form of marine debris including plastic bags, cloth, and rope or string bugoni et al. And you can imagine how eating plastic messes with an animals intestine.
Due to nonbiodegradable nature they cause hazardous negative impact on the environment. Environmental impacts the environmental impacts of plastic bag use include. Pdf thousands of plastic factories are producing tons of plastic bags which are very popularly used by the people for shopping purposes because of its. Records showed that the amount of plastic made in the first 10 years of 21 st century is equal to the amount of plastic made in the whole 20 th century. Effect of plastic grocery bags on environment and its reuse ijariit.
These include efforts to ban or tax products such as plastic bags. Jamaica is introducing a ban on singleuse plastic bags, plastic straws and styrofoam in a bid to reduce the impact plastic is having on the environment. They are convenient to use, lightweight and can easily be disposed of or reused. The impacts of plastic in our environment are dramatic and. According to the environmental protection agency, in the united states people use over 380 billion plastic bags and wraps each year. While these initiatives likely arise from a sincere effort to prevent litter and help the environment, officials often overlook the negative economic impact, and overstate the environmental impact, of these policies. Plastic waste is deceptive for birds and other wildlife, who mistake it for food. In 2015, the city of chicago joined their ranks when it implemented a ban on singleuse plastic bags. Singleuse plastics a serious climate change hazard, study. Disposal of plastic waste which are major cause of environment pollution becomes carcinogenic to human, birth defects, impaired immunity,endocrine disruption, development and reproductive effect. Survey on the usage of plastic bags, their disposal and. The proliferation of singleuse plastic around the world is accelerating climate change and should be urgently halted, a report warns. Pdf consumption of plastic bags and its impact on environment.
Comparison of environmental impact of plastic, paper and. The use of paper carryout bags is increased in the proposed ordinance from the status quo, and either stays the same or increases or decreases in the five recommended alternatives. This briefing note looks at the environmental impact of different types of carrier bags cloth, paper and plastic. In september, british prime minister david cameron called on supermarkets to reduce usage of plastic bagsor prepare for national restrictions. For the sake of reducing the scope of the research, the focus is set on plastic bags and bottles. Consumption of plastic bags and its impact on environment. Plastic bags are a huge threat to the environment as an estimated 1 trillion. Assessment of impacts of options to reduce the use of. However, we all know that plastic bags have an extremely negative impact on our environment. Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment. The sheer volume of plastic waste generated coupled with energy and material resources required for production, as well as emissions resulting from these processes paint a grim picture of the environmental havoc created by plastic bags. When it comes to having an environmental impact, plastic bag bans and fees cant hold a candle to reducing, reusing and recycling these materials.
Plastic bags are the most environmentally friendly option at the checkout. Biobased and biodegradable plastics can potentially be used for a wide range of applications but cannot yet replace all types of traditional plastics for all applications, for reasons such as resistance and durability. Comparison of environmental impact of plastic, paper and cloth bags. Plastic bags, environmental degradation, impact on. A discussion on project objectives and goals page 2 recommended solution, to the elimination or reduction of plastic carryout bags. The impacts of plastic waste on our health and the environment are only just becoming apparent. Paper bags are a possible option but they also take their toll on the environment. Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment and agriculture conference paper pdf available december 2011 with 17,227 reads how we measure reads. The effects of plastic bags on environment healthguidance. Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment and. Using custom reusable grocery bags over plastic or paper bags can save on money, resources and have a positive impact on the environment as well. The impact of plastic bags on the environment project topics. Assessing the impact of the complete ban on plastic carry bag.
However, there are several issues associated with the production, use, and disposal of plastic grocery bags which may not be initially apparent to most users, but. A field survey of the city of uyo and the surrounding areas. A field survey of the city of sanaa and the surrounding areas, yemen article pdf available november 2014 with 114,005 reads how we measure reads. Social perceptions of singleuse plastic consumption of. Certain policies can have unintended negative consequences.
When plastics are used, recycled, or disposed of, or left in the environment as. In this article we highlight 15 harmful effects of plastic bags, cutting across social, economic, health, and ecological aspects of life. Pdf using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment. Concerned about the environmental impact, some cities, such as austin, seattle and san francisco, have banned their use. Environmental impacts of plastic bags blogging hub.
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