Plastic Facts

Facts about Plastic Bags:

1. Plastic bags are a hydrocarbon which means they are a derivative of oil or natural gas.
2. The manufacture of plastic bags does not affect the amount of oil or natural gas that is consumed. We do not drill for oil or natural gas to produce plastic bags. Plastic bags are a derivative which means that in the refining process to produce gasoline or other fuels, a small percentage (1.5%) of the oil or gas is used to create all plastic products. Plastic bags actually account for less than 0.5% of a barrel of oil or unit of natural gas.
3. In North America, plastic bags are made from natural gas, not oil.
4. Plastic bags are very recyclable. For example, a variety of products like plastic lumber and plastic bags are made with recycled plastic bags.
5. Plastic bags will degrade but require heat or ultraviolet light (UV).
6. Because of the stability of the plastic molecules, plastic bags do not degrade easily. Estimates of 1000 years are random and inexact. Depending on the climate, a plastic bag will decompose into a powdery substance within a few years.
7. The absence of heat, light, and moisture in landfills means that nothing biodegrades quickly in a landfill.
8. Plastic bags are non-toxic and are comprised exclusively of a stable molecular structure of Carbon and Hydrogen.
9. Research data shows that a significant amount of plastic bags are re-used for many secondary purposes before disposal.
10. Plastic bag recycling rates in the United States are estimated to be between 1-5%.