Plastic bags harm environment

Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Plastic bags are very popular with both retailers as well as consumers because the are cheap, strong, lightweight and functional. Also they are responsible for causing pollution, killing wildlife and using up the precious resources of the earth.
Here are some of the harmful effect of plastic bags:

• Plastic bags litter the landscape.

Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. and, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.

• Plastic bags kill animals

About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turttles, whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. If animals don't die from plastic ingestion, they pollute the food chain instead. After all, we are the ones eating fish and meat.

• Plastic bags are non-biodegradable.

Plastic degradation at sea takes between 45 - 1000 years.

• Petroleum is required to produce plastic bags.

Moreover, it takes about 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million non-degradable plastic bags. And weuse4 trillion to 5 trillion plastic bags worldwide annually. That's using up oil sources recywithout cling them.

So, what can be done about the use of plastic bags?

Single-use plastic bags have become such a ubiquitous way of life that it seems as if we simply cannot do without them. However, if we have the will, we can start reducing their use in small ways.

• A tote bag can make a good substitute for holding the shopping. You can keep the bag with the cashier, and then put your purchases into it instead of the usual plastic bag.


• Recycling the plastic bags you already have is another good idea. These can come into use for various purposes, like holding your garbage, instead of purchasing new ones.

While governments may be working out ways to lessen the impact of plastic bags on the environment, however, each of us should shoulder some of the responsibility for problem, which ultimately harms us.