Plastic Bag
Nowadays, the matter of the effect of plastic bags on living environment is becoming more and more serious. This problem seems to be rise with the growth of population, development of industry and causes many damages to our environment. This essay will investigate the following problem in two aspects: the first is plastic bags can be harmful with the wildlife by killing animals and non-biodegradable, the second is they may turn into a prime reason for pollution because of their prerequisites to produce, their manufacturing and recycling processes.
It is difficult to deny that plastic bag is one of the most popular materials in this era. Australian Government (n.d) stated that with a lot of advantages such as functional, lightweight, strong and cheap, plastic bags are always on top of the range for customers to choose to carry goods. According to Environmental Agency (n.d), in 2010, approximately 14 million tons of plastic was generated in just the United State and nearly half of them were plastic shopping bags, which are severe threat to animals’ lives. More specifically, every year, about tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals and turtles died merely because they expect it as their food. Moreover, after dying, these animals’ body had decayed but still lived their unexpected “food” so it would kill another one and this process can last for the short term (Planetark, n.d).
Another perspective is that even if residents who beware of plastic bags try to carry them away as a litter because they think this is more safety. Unfortunately, this litter is a thing that is not biodegradable and thus it will stay for a period of time in where it was landed before being ripped to shreds and spread in smaller amounts. Subsequently, this dangerous substance will often be conveyed to waterway by storm drains, so that problem will be even more severe (Wagner, n.d).
Another contribution to environmental problem comes from plastics bags is the negative consequences that they
It is difficult to deny that plastic bag is one of the most popular materials in this era. Australian Government (n.d) stated that with a lot of advantages such as functional, lightweight, strong and cheap, plastic bags are always on top of the range for customers to choose to carry goods. According to Environmental Agency (n.d), in 2010, approximately 14 million tons of plastic was generated in just the United State and nearly half of them were plastic shopping bags, which are severe threat to animals’ lives. More specifically, every year, about tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals and turtles died merely because they expect it as their food. Moreover, after dying, these animals’ body had decayed but still lived their unexpected “food” so it would kill another one and this process can last for the short term (Planetark, n.d).
Another perspective is that even if residents who beware of plastic bags try to carry them away as a litter because they think this is more safety. Unfortunately, this litter is a thing that is not biodegradable and thus it will stay for a period of time in where it was landed before being ripped to shreds and spread in smaller amounts. Subsequently, this dangerous substance will often be conveyed to waterway by storm drains, so that problem will be even more severe (Wagner, n.d).
Another contribution to environmental problem comes from plastics bags is the negative consequences that they
References: Australia Government (n.d), Waste & Recycling: Plastic. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/plastic-bags/index.html Environmental Protection Agency (n.d), Common Wastes and Materials: Plastic. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm Planetark (n.d), About plastic bags: Effects on Wildlife. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://plasticbags.planetark.org/about/wildlife.cfm Wagner J. (n.d), The Effects of Plastic Bags on Environment .Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14901/1/The-Effects-of-Plastic-Bags-on-Environment.html Putatunda R. (2011), Environmental Pollution: The Harmful Effect of Plastic Bags. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/environmental-pollution-the-harmful-effects-of-plastic-bags.html Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment (1990), Paper vs. Plastic bags. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www/.ilea.org/lcas/franklin1990.html Mieszkowski K. (August 10th, 2007), Plastic bags are killing us,. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.salon.com/2007/08/10/plastic_bags/ Summers C. (March 19th, 2012), What should be done about plastic bags?. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-1702799 Hickman L. (August 11th, 2009), Do we really need to ban plastic bags?. Retrieved on March 4, 2013 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/aug/11/plastic-bags-welsh-assembly?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487