 Plastic bags are everywhere. In land fill, choking our waterways, by the roadside and in parks. We can't seem to get away from this constant proliferation of plastic bags in our society.
Considering we use plastic bags for such a short time before we dispose of them, they remain in landfill for approximately one million years...ridiculous.
Granted some do get reused and some get recycled, but the downside is they are a non-renewable resource, highly polluting and expensive to recycle.
Some do get reused, and some do get recycled, but there's still a downside: They're produced with a non-renewable resource, are highly polluting and are expensive to recycle. We have to learn to live without them.
Can we live without plastic bags?
The question should be 'can earth live with plastic bags!'
The billions of plastic bags we use every year are harming the environment. Take a look at these facts:
- 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.
- According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually.
 (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion.)
- 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.
- Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.
- Plastic bags are among the 12 items of debris most often found in coastal cleanups, according to the nonprofit Center for Marine Conservation.
- Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic.
- The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store.
- Plastic bags are light and hard to contain. Because of their light weight, plastic bags fly easily in wind, float along readily in the currents of rivers and oceans, get tangled up in trees, fences, poles, and so forth, and block the drainage.
- Plastic bags are made from a non-renewable natural resource: petroleum. Consequently, the manufacturing of plastic bags contributes to the diminishing availability of our natural resources and the damage to the environment from the extraction of petroleum.
Facts courtesy of EarthResource.org
Tips to help you reduce Plastic Bag Usage
It can be so easy to reduce, reuse and recycle - Follow these tips:
Plastic bags without doubt are convenient, but there are many alternatives. Plastic bags are harmful polluters, so check out our list of easy and covenient eco friendly alternatives:
- Check your house. Take a look what you already have. Shopping bags, sports bags, school bags, beach bags and canvas bags - all of these can be utilized for shopping.
- If you're short of bags at home - Consider the op shops, charitable stores, St Vinnies and even Garage/Yard sales to build up your collection of cheap bags.
- Excess plastic bags should be re-used or re-cycled. Check for any symbols on the bags and most grocery chains accept bags for recycling.
- Finally, do your bit for your community by picking up litter. Do it as a family contribution to society as every bag collected is one bag that doesn't end up in the water ways to kill our marine animals who see plastic bags as jelly fish. They might look tasty, but they are deadly to swallow.
Helpful Links
Consider these helpful links that offer additional tips on living in a bag free society.
- Reusable Bags
- This company has a great online store, a comprehensive facts section and an action center. Learn the truth about plastic bags, buy a few reusable bags, and download a sample letter to your local grocer requesting more plastic bag alternatives.
- Campaign Against the Plastic Plague
- Check out the Earth Resource Foundation's Campaign Against the Plastic Plague (CAPP) for facts about plastic bags and solutions to the problems.
- Bring Your Own
- Ah...kindred spirits. Bring Your Own is all about illuminating the problems of our disposable society and working together on solutions. And check out the latest on their blog: http://www.byotalk.blogspot.com/
- "The Bag Beast"
- An informative article by Michael Jessen about the problems with plastic bags, along with international links.
- World Watch Institute
- The World Watch Institute's "behind the scenes" look at plastic bags - problems and solutions.
- To-Go Ware
- A small range of stylish, reusable products (with more to come), such as a travel utensil kit and a lightweight, compact bag. The site also includes links to helpful green Web sites.
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