...States need to impose a ban and/or a fine on the distribution and use of plastic bags. Central Idea: The United States needs to impose a ban and/or a fine for the distribution and use of plastic bags on all states because of the devastation caused globally every year. Organizational Pattern: Problem Cause Solution Order Introduction: A. (Attention getter) When we throw something away, something as simple as a plastic bag, we often don’t think of where it will end up or the journey it takes to its permanent home. We don’t care what happens next; however, 86% of you stated, in my audience analysis, that we do need to be concerned with plastic pollution in Nebraska (Audience Analysis). (show plastic bag video) B....
Words: 1317 - Pages: 6
...The use of plastic bags has been a largely debated topic in areas both locally and nationally, as the cost of bans placed upon plastic bags is largely portrayed as an unnecessary evil. Although plastic bags may be seen as a simple disposable source for transport of goods, it is abundantly clear that bans on plastic bags, and even other types of bags, will not only improve the environment, but also the economy of the community. It may be argued that “plastic bags have a lighter environmental footprint than paper”(Source D) the opposite has been found true through Source C, where it displays plastic bags as number four on the main list of debris found on ocean fronts. Even paper, deemed more environmentally friendly than plastic, has its own difficulties if only used as a simple disposable bag. In Source F it states that paper “causes pollution...consumes energy...consumes water, [is] inefficient [in] recycling...produces waste [and has] biodegrading difficulties”, to which it expounds. When plastic, or even paper, is only used once, the drawbacks of both significantly outweigh the argument of one versus the other. Furthermore, Source D states that “paper, LDPE, non-woven PP and...
Words: 876 - Pages: 4
...Ban the Bag or Bag the Ban: An In-depth Look Into Austin’s Ban on Single-Use Bags In today’s day and age, the topic of environmental sustainability and the protection of the environment are found at the basis of a multitude of political debates and arguments. The way we, and our government, view the protection of the environment and the impact we have on the world around us has shaped the types of policies that governments in the U.S. have passed. One of these policies which has been implemented in a variety of cities around the United States, including Austin, is the ban on single-use plastic and paper bags. This ban has been hotly debated, and there are many people who view it as beneficial and many others who see it as unnecessary and imposing. Either way the impacts of this policy are far-reaching in how it can affect customers, businesses, and the environment. In this paper, I will show the conflicting arguments in this ongoing debate, focusing on the bag ban implemented in Austin in early 2013. We will begin by looking at the two opposing sides to the argument. There are many groups of people who advocated for the implementation of a city ordinance banning single-use bags in Austin and who continue to support it. The Austin City Government, led by Mayor Lee Leffinwell, and the Austin Resource Recovery, formerly known as the Solid Waste Services (SWS) Department, were the main proponents who pushed the ordinance into effect. In addition, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission...
Words: 3038 - Pages: 13
...going bagless beginning March 1, 2013. All consumers use plastic or paper bags on a regular basis, whether while retail shopping or grocery shopping. That’s all about to change, however; the passage of this new law means that those paper and plastic bags are on the way out. Single-use bag use will be diminished, re-usable bags are headed to the forefront, and shoppers will be getting used to a new experience when the head to their local grocery early next year. BACKGROUND According to a city report released this year, “Austinities use 263 million plastic bags a year – that’s more than 330 bags a year for every resident. It costs the city – meaning it costs us the taxpayers – about $850,000 a year to dispose of plastic bags.”(Lisheron, 2012) Consumers in Austin have already started to get a taste of what is to come. Companies, such as Walgreens, have implemented a trial test on stores to gauge the impact of the law being passed. Candace White, an avid shopper at the Slaughter and South Congress Walgreens, was quite confused when the cashier thanked her for coming but did not place her products in a plastic bag. The cashier informed her about Austin going bagless and she was given a free recycled bag. Like most Austinities, she was not informed of the new law which is soon to be enforced. This paper will reinforce the reasons why going bagless is good for all involved parties. To better understand the effect of this ban on our community, the views of the consumer, retailer, and...
Words: 3224 - Pages: 13
...and environmentalists are trying to ban the use of plastic bags, writer Adan B. Summers argues that there are not so many benefits doing so, but in fact many disadvantages. In his article “Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment”, writer Summers efficiently builds his arguments by using an irony, authoritative statistics, and contracts. Writer Summers first started his article by satiring a recent bill. By saying “not content to tell us how much our toilets can flush or what type of light bulb to use to brighten our homes”, the writer reminds that us that the politicians and environmentalists have already imposed too many suggestions and rules about our private lives, made our lives less convenient than before...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...¬Disadvantages and Advantages of Plastic Bag’s Regulations Plastic bags, scientifically known as polyethene was first accidentally produced by a German scientist, Han von Pechhman as a waxy residue at the bottom of his test tube. Polyethene is made from crude oil and nowadays, it is made through a process called cracking. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), plastic bags are commonly used for food packaging and grocery carrier. Statistically, sixty millions of polyethene are produced worldwide every year; one million of plastic bags are used worldwide every minute; it takes 700 to 1000 years for a plastic bag to fully decompose and about 1 percent of the produced outcome is being recycled. This essay will discuss the disadvantages and advantages of the Governor’s plan to regulate the use of plastic bags in the National Capital District (NCD). What will be discussed are as follows: PNG is a developing nation; manufacturers and people living in NCD will be affected; plastic bags are durable and useful in the rain; there will be less threat to marine-life and sea birds; there will be less environmental damages to the composition of soil and the atmosphere; and it will reduce the level of increased pollution in NCD and PNG as one. First of all, the Governor’s plan to regulate the use of plastic bags in NCD is a disadvantage due to the fact that PNG is ranked in the third world country and that is to say that PNG is a developing nation. Comparing PNG to other countries like the United States...
Words: 2345 - Pages: 10
...the economic effects of a plastic bag tax. It is important that this issue is addressed because if it is left unaddressed, the consequences could be dire. The essay will discuss the impact that plastic bags are having on society and why the over consumption of such needs to be corrected. Furthermore, it will explain the economic models that are relevant to the issue along with analysing real world examples of similar policies; discussing the limitations and restrictions associated with such models. Setting the Context Australia’s consumption of plastic grocery bags was estimated to be approximately seven billion per year in 2002 (National Plastic Shopping Bags Working Group, 2002), so we can assume it is in excess of this figure currently. This consumption results in negative externalities, not only impacting the environment, but also reducing the efficiency of other sectors of the economy. As these plastic bags are composed of many non-renewable resources such as crude oil, coal and gases, there is an opportunity cost associated with not recycling them. The fuel consumed by driving a car one kilometre is equivalent to the petroleum content of 8.7 bags (Environment Australia, 2002). As these bags are used once, and disregarded, that means that Australia is wasting enough potential fuel to power a car for over 800 million kilometres annually. Moreover, thousands of marine mammals and birds die annually around the globe due to plastic litter. When these animals...
Words: 1835 - Pages: 8
...Plastic Bag Jeff Blanchard COMM215 November 3, 2014 Gayle Thomas Plastic Bag I feel that the Senate Bill 270 has too many negative consequences to be of significant value to the citizens California. Because of the dramatic change in environmental resources used and the financial impact for fixed income citizens. The tax increase on California consumers are also an issue. This bill is a ban on the use of single use plastic bags at grocery stores. Which has been a controversial subject for a number of years. I think this is the worst decision that the Governor has ever made. On September 30, 2014. The California Governor signed a very controversial bill that bans the use of single use plastic bags in grocery stores in the State of California. “This bill, as of July 1, 2015, would prohibit stores that have a specified amount of sales in dollars or retail floor space from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer, with specified exceptions.” (California SB270). First of all, I would like to state that there are two very opposing arguments that view this bill. To ban and not to ban. I would like to state my position as not to ban the use of plastic bags. This ban like some others will affect all the citizens of the State of California. In which, we will all either have to pay for the use of paper bags or buy reusable grocery ones. It requires all grocery stores to “charge a fee” for paper bags at no less than .10 cents a bag or, sell reusable bags. “Union representatives...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
...The editorial, 'Ban the bags before it's too late' published in The Daily Chronicle on the 27th of May 2009 contends in a predominately, measured tone that the federal government needs to step up its actions and ban plastic bags in order to stop them from causing harm to our native animals and viciously damaging the environment. The editorial is targeted towards the general public, particularly those who have an interest in the environment and battling pollution. The editorial commences with the generalization that we must 'ban the bags before it's too late,' - a title that provides arguable evidence. Consequently, the audience may agree with the unsupported argument that it will be too late for the environment if we do not act on the issue right now and that the damage will be done. Furthermore, the use of the emotive dysphemisms 'destroy' and 'die' - words which imply an extreme sense of annihilation - emphasize the potentially calamitous outcomes which the sea life will succumb to if the bags aren't removed. This attempts to compound the nuances of the generalization the audience have been pre-positioned with and thus, attempts to pull at the heart strings of readers and forces them to think about the damage the bags are doing to the environment. By providing irrefutable evidence in the form of statistics, such as that at least "100,000 birds die each year to plastic bags" and that plastic bags last from "20 to a 1000 years", the author attempts to inform the audience...
Words: 412 - Pages: 2
...retail stores make up a huge share of employment, product and services, publicity and sales. Retail paper and plastic bags are common packaging tools in the market but due to environmental issues and the public’s awareness more people are decided to use retail paper bag instead of plastic. Paper bags are used for many things, to put up lunches for kids, to bring in the groceries, to take out the trash, to hold the things and help us stay organized. Many markets have switched from plastic bags to paper bags. Paper bags are less expensive. Cost Effectiveness is one of the reasons why they prefer paper bag other than plastic bag. Many vendors and consumers have complained about using plastic bags to put their goods. Some market and grocery stores now give a choice between paper bags or plastic bags. Some Smart shoppers choose to use paper bags instead of plastic assuming that it is an environmentally friendly and better alternative. Paper Bags are usually made up of plant fibers substance from fibrous cellulose materials as rags, woods, or barks. Paper bags were invented in the 1850’s. Paper bags are recyclable. Well known grocery stores, supermarkets, fast food chain, establishment and markets uses brown paper bags to hold their items since there are laws that are implemented to ban the usage of plastic bags in some provinces and cities in the Philippines. Paper bags can easily be disposed...
Words: 5582 - Pages: 23
...Protection Clause, alleging that there was no basis for the state banning the retail sale of milk in plastic nonreturnable, non-refillable containers such as paperboard milk cartons. Decision of the Facts In 1977 Minnesota legislature a statue of banning the retail sale of milk in plastic cartons to control the solid waste arguing that plastic containers take up more space in waste disposal dumps. The case was brought to the Minnesota Supreme court and found evidence to the contrary. They found out that the jugs took up more space than the plastic cartons in a land fill. Statement and Discussion of the Legal Issues in Dispute The legal statue that is being debated in this case is whether the Minnesota statue that was passed in 1977 is unconstitutional even though it has been proven that the jugs take up more space in a landfill. The statue actually permits the sale of these products even though they take up less space and use less energy to produce. The issue is also to decide if this statue is still rational based on the new information that has been provided obviously showing that the information on trash disposal is incorrect. Subject Court Final Decision The ban on plastic nonreturnable milk containers bears a rational relation to the State's objectives, and must be sustained under the Equal Protection Clause. The Equal Protection Clause does not deny Minnesota the authority to ban one type of milk container conceded to cause environmental problems merely because another already...
Words: 480 - Pages: 2
...War on Plastic Bags The battle between individuals who are committed to saving environment and those who seem not to be as interested has become a bigger battle. Our environment is changing whether we see it or not, the ecological footprint that humans are leaving is becoming greater. More impactful to the wildlife causing noticeable changes that is harming rather than helping. These impacts revolve around trying to sustain a lifestyle that as Americans we have grown accustom to. Around the late 50’s the first “Baggies” for sandwiches were introduced. Slowly after that the use of plastic as bags began to increase and increase. Consumers took a liking to the use of plastic bags and the production and use of them increased. This increase of usage of plastic bags has already created irreversible damage to our environment therefore plastic bags should be banned on a national level. Although there are some positives to using plastic bags, the negatives of using the bags out way the positives. Landfills are becoming filled with plastic bags waste, according to the Clean Air Council, “30,000 tons of waste is created from plastic bags each year”. Not only does plastic bags accumulate trash in landfills, they are seen more and more in the ocean and other water sources. “Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile”. All this plastic is affecting the ecosystems of the wildlife and the basic natural...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...Waste Plastic bags were very popular at one time but now they are creating a problem in the environment. As I was reading about the plastic bags I found out that a strand of hair is thicker than a grocery bag, weighing less than 5 grams, just one bag can hold 17 pounds a thousand times its own weight, they are very strong (Mangu-Ward, 2015). These plastic bags are amazing; they can be reusable because I sometimes use them to line my small garbage can. Two environmental problems caused by extensive plastic bag use would be the ocean because they cause harm to the marine wildlife when they are floating around in the water. The marine wildlife animals will eat them mistakenly for food or can choke on them. Turtles see them as jellyfish and will swallow them. Plastic bags is also an environmental problem for land animals when people throw them out with food in them or the scent of food the animals eat the plastic and sometimes get choked. Plastic bags are so light; they can blow all over the landscape and cause the streets drains to clog up. If I were in charge of getting rid of or reducing the use of plastic bags, I would implement bans on them. When customers are shopping, they would have to bring their bag or buy one from the store. All stores will be equipped with heavy duty bags to sell. Many states have banned plastic bags; Los Angeles became one of the largest cities to ban plastic bags; later the Big Island of Hawaii adopted a similar law to ban plastic bags (Bubar...
Words: 388 - Pages: 2
...differently. Often, business is for the economy and environment is the welfare of our Mother Earth where in fact it can work interconnectedly. Both can associate and benefit each other. Micro, small and medium enterprises are defined as any business activity engaged in industry, agri-business or services whether single proprietorship, cooperative, partnership or corporation whose total assets inclusive of those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated. (Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], 2007) They are mostly affected by the non plastic ordinance. It is very important on how these small and medium enterprises comply with the Provincial Ordinance No.2012-09 because their consumers are major actors and they can minimize or eliminate the use of short-lived applications of plastics. Bulacan PCEDO (2005) revealed that Bulacan is considered the Small Medium Enterprises (SME) Capital of Region 3 because 35% of small and medium enterprises in Central Luzon were from Bulacan. It all started in 2003 when TatakBulakenyo was launched. TatakBulakenyo is an effort to generate market opportunities and livelihood for the province’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by enhancing the quality of local products. Initially, seven priority products had been identified for product development under the TatakBulakenyo seal: pastillas de...
Words: 11457 - Pages: 46
...UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA CRITICAL THINKING CBEB1108 PLASTIC BAG SHOULD BE BANNED WHAT IS PLASTIC BAG? Plastic bag is used to carry item especially from store to home. Most of the time plastic bag is used for storage and trash in common. Plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coal. IMPACT The impact of plastic bags on the environment is enormous. As of August 2010, between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are being used each year worldwide. Approximately 100,000 sea turtles and other marine animals die every year because they either mistake the bags for food or get strangled in them, says Natural Environment. In Australia, 50 million garbage bags end up as litter yearly, and the "plastic soup" patch floating in the Pacific Ocean is twice the size of the continental United States. It is roughly 80 percent plastic, according to The Independent, a British newspaper. What exactly the impact of reusable bag usage in the U.S. is far from clear. Even though, according to the website Earth 911, reusing or recycling one ton of plastic means the equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved. ALTERNATIVE As we can see nowadays grocery chain carries cheap reusable grocery bags and more upscale bags are available in practically all chain stores. In addition, many people sew their own from leftover fabric or by converting old jeans or beach towels into personalized carry-on bags, which is fun and creative way to recycle. POTENTIAL ...
Words: 834 - Pages: 4
