Plastic bags are a convenient component of modern living, but are also a major contributor for many negative health and environmental problems. Despite the many benefits it brings, including in the fields of electronics, medicine, and automotive, typically, the plastics used to contain and seal these items are used to dispose other forms of garbage. Because of this purpose, manufacturers made their products even more durable.
Plastics began mass production in the 1940s and have become more versatile in composition and in use. They may be inconsequential in weight, inexpensive, and are reusable, but the actual manufacture and clearance of the plastics are the very same components that harm people and the environment (Knoblauch 2009).
Plastics litter the landscape and the environment and usually end up in beaches, waterways, and streets. When they are burned, they produce toxic fumes that are harmful when inhaled by humans and animals. When absorbed by the body, these chemical fumes have the capacity to modify the body's hormonal composition and thus, results to hormonal imbalances and other forms of medical problems. In some instances, animals mistake these plastics as food. Thus, when they ingest the plastic, animals die because plastics are non-biodegradable and remain intact even after hundreds of years. In addition, plastics are "laced with chemicals and [when] ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife (Knoblauch 2009).
Some sectors of society are pushing for the discontinuance of the use of plastic bags in supermarkets, department stores, and other similar establishments. Despite these efforts, another sector of society are all for the use of plastics, even to the point of paying extra for plastics. In fact, Which?, the consumer group in England has "found that 56 per cent of [English] people would support a charge of 5 pence-per-bag when they do their weekly shop" (Hall, 2012). These majority of people say they use and re-use their plastic bags, thus, paying for such is not an inconvenience for them. For hygienic purposes, these people would rather buy or pay for plastic bags instead of reusing those provided by supermarkets in the bag recycling bins.
While there are people who encourage these acts, there are still those who oppose the notion of paying for plastic bags, claiming that they already spend much for their groceries and, therefore, are entitled to free bags (Hall, 2012). On the other hand, still a huge number of consumers are against the use of plastics. Environmentalists, together with concerned citizens, are pushing for the use of paper bags because these are biodegradable and recyclable, while plastics are not.
With the combined efforts of the government, environmentalists, and concerned citizens to instill awareness about the harmful effects of plastics to human and animal health and the environment, everyone must pitch in their efforts to keep the planet safe, clean, and green.
Works Cited
"Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling Resources." Ministry of Government Legislation. Web. 3 Dec 2012.
Hall, James. "Shoppers in England Support Plastic Bag Charge." The Telegraph: 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.
Knoblauch, Jessica A. “The Environmental Toll of Plastics.” Environmental Health News: 2009. Web. 3 Dec. 2012
