Plastic Background

Receive more news & updates:

Plastic bags in the environment - the background

Because plastic bags are so versatile, inexpensive, strong, grease and leak resistant, and require little space, they have become the packaging device of choice across the planet. These same properties that have made them so popular now threaten their very existence.

The environmentalist mantra of Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, by definition should favor plastic bags over other carrying devices because:

Plastic actually uses less resources to produce than paper bags.
Plastic bags are re-used far more than any other common carrying devices.
The manufacturing and end product of plastic bags are non-toxic.

Having become a symbol of a disposable society, plastic bags are now feeling the wrath of advocates for the use of fewer resources and less waste. Plastic bag manufacturers admit that the use of plastic bags are excessive. Plastic grocery sack manufacturers eager to compete for the mass retailer's business have reduced the thickness of the common T-shirt bag to make them less expensive. Unfortunately, these bags are so thin that consumers doubt their strength and receive far too many bags to carry groceries. Although these thin plastic bags can carry far more weight than perceived, the baggers and consumers continue to under utilize them. The industry has attempted to educate and encourage grocers and consumers to fill the bags fuller and use less bags. These changes have not proven to have reduced the use of bags fast enough or substantially enough to satisfy some legislators and environmental groups.

Plastic bags make up only .4% of the landfill (by weight) in California - contrast that to newspapers and paper products that make up more than five times that of plastic bags.

If saving the environment is really the goal, there are better ways than banning plastic bags. Americans have developed a lifestyle that requires convenience. Many items like cans, bottles, drink cups, straws, napkins, and snack food packaging are made from plastic and make our lives better. None of these items are being threatened with bans or taxes, although they make up a greater portion of the solid waste stream.

The plastic bag industry has become a symbol of the disposable society with reports indicating that only 1 - 5% of plastic bags are recycled. Bottles and cans are recycled in measurable amounts because consumers have been educated and encouraged to do this with tools to facilitate recycling. Clearly this is a significant missing ingredient in the plastic bag issue.

RECYCLE PLASTIC BAGS – learn how to recycle plastic bags and where to recycle them: http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org

Sign up for our e-newsletter to receive more news and updates.