...Plastic has become pretty much a lifestyle here in America; We use plastic cards to make transactions every day, we’re given plastic bowls and utensils with our lunch and we collect a countless number of plastic bags from our local stores daily. These days, there is so much hoopla about banning these convenient little bags that many of us love. Opposers of these bags claim (or were misled to think) that they are not environmentally responsible. Before we take on a war against these plastic bags with hopes of saving the world one bag at a time, as citizens we should get the facts into perspective about alternatives being advertised before making earth saving decisions. Also, what happened to being presented with choices and choosing the ones we find to be more responsible? Regularly, you may hear critics stating that yearly a billion bags are not recycled and filling up our landfills. This is in fact true. Plastic bags take . To remedy this problem, has anyone ever asked the question as to why we don’t just find a way to recycle the bags with all the technology available these days? Matter of fact, the truth is that these bags are already recyclable! Plastic bags can be recycled into things like plastic wood which can be used to make backyard decking components, shopping crates, park benches or even more plastic bags. The EPA reported that only 1% of these bags are being recycled? As responsible citizens we should all get together to push for new laws that encourage...
Words: 704 - Pages: 3
...Cheap plastic business cards are the way that many people and corporations prefer to get their names about on a person to person basis. They have many advantages over old style paper cards and are also much cheaper to produce. They are far more environmentally friendly compared to paper or cardboard cards and they also do not take as long to manufacture. First, cheap business cards used to be made from paper, which made them easy to damage. With cheap plastic business cards you do not have to worry about that. They are also environmentally friendly when you compare them to paper or cardboard used for the business cards. They also take less time to manufacture. From a manufacturing point the plastic used in cheap plastic business cards is...
Words: 513 - Pages: 3
...The Effects of Plastic Bags on Environmentt * | * The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really quite devastating. While there are many objections to the banning of plastic bags based solely on their convenience, the damage to the environment needs to be controlled. * There is no way to strictly limit the effects of plastic bags on the environment because there is no disposal method that will really help eliminate the problem. While reusing them is the first step, most people either don't or can't based on store policies. They are not durable enough to stand up to numerous trips to the store so often the best that citizens can do is reuse them when following pooper scooper laws. * The biggest problem with this is that once they have been soiled the end up in the trash, which then ends up in the landfill or burned. Either solution is very poor for the environment. Burning emits toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of VOCs in the air while landfills hold them indefinitely as part of the plastic waste problem throughout the globe. * Plastic Bag Litter * Even when citizens try to manage their plastic bag disposal wind plays a role in carrying them away as litter. This litter is not biodegradable and thus where it lands it tends to stay for long period of time. A bag that is eventually ripped to shreds from high winds or other factors doesn't disappear but instead is spread in smaller amounts throughout the area. This can cause...
Words: 4911 - Pages: 20
...COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES Nancy Skinner, Chair AB 87 (Davis) - As Amended: March 18, 2009 SUBJECT : Solid waste: single-use carryout bags. SUMMARY : This bill establishes a statewide fee of 25 cents for single-use carryout bags (bags), of all types, beginning in 2010. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires operators of stores (defined as supermarkets and stores over 10,000 square feet that include a pharmacy) to establish an in-store plastic carryout bag recycling program. The program must include: a) Plastic bags provided by the store to include a label encouraging customers to return the bag to the store for recycling; b) Easily accessible recycling bins for plastic bags; c) All plastic bags collected must be recycled in a manner consistent with the local jurisdiction's recycling plan; d) The store must maintain records relating to the program for at least three years and must make the records available to the local jurisdiction or California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) upon request; and e) The operator of the store must make...
Words: 2259 - Pages: 10
...contamination that plastic bottled waters give off to the environment. The purpose of this paper is to inform people of the impairment that bottled water containers contribute to Earth’s atmosphere. Hopefully, this paper will inform people on this subject matter and help discover new ways to benefit Earth’s environment. In the article, Muddy Wars: The Public Health Risks and Sustainability of Bottled Water in China, written by Abigail Barnes, she states, “The three primary environmental issues that stem from bottled water...
Words: 1099 - Pages: 5
...bottle and drink. Plastic water bottles and plastic in general, is destroying our environment. Here are some simple facts to help you see my point. In 2012 32 million tons of plastic waste was generated in the U.S., and that represents close to 13 percent of the total MSW (municipal solid waste) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Out of the 32 million tons of plastic waste that was created in 2012 only 9% was recycled (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Every year, about 100 billion tons of plastic are produced all over the world, less than 9% is recycled (REUSEIT, 2014). Plastic water bottles are lightweight, this makes them preferred over glass or aluminum bottles. Although, the weight difference may be only a couple of grams, it makes them easier to carry (PlasticsEurope, 2014). Because of the weight difference between plastic and glass or aluminum, plastic bottles are less expensive to transport. This saves us some natural resources and cuts down on gas emissions from the transporting vehicle (PlasticsEurope, 2014). Another benefit that manufactures’ get from using plastic bottle is clarity. The bottle is clear and this allows the end user to see any impurities that might be in the water and this acts as an assurance that the water is uncontaminated, even if it is (PlasticsEurope, 2014). Unlike glass bottles, plastic water bottles won’t shatter and this makes them safer to use because they won’t produce sharp edges (Andrady, 2009). Plastics bottles provide...
Words: 1824 - Pages: 8
...surroundings. How many objects are made of or just contain a bit of plastic? There is a high amount of plastic being used for all kinds of objects for daily use. Plastic is used all the time and most people never really think twice about it. Plastic is becoming too common in the world today and is harming our environment (Manrich. 2009). People do not realize the effects plastic over-usage has on the world but if each person were to really take time to think about this over-usage maybe this use could be greatly reduced with just a few simple measures. Human dependence on plastic and paper products is high and some measures are needed to take a step back and evaluate which plastic products are necessities and which are not in order to help save the environment. Ways to reduce the amount of plastic in society is needed to reduce the amount of harm to the environment because the plastics that are being used are taking over landfills, getting into the water supply, and causing a lot of harm to the ecosystem (Ginis. 2008). Turning away from plastic completely may not be possible, but usage can be reduced and the amount used in daily lives can be altered. On a global scale human dependence on plastic is entirely too high which means that on average the amount of plastic each person uses and wastes is too high as well. Over one hundred million tons of plastic is produced annually and out of all that plastic over fourteen million tons end up in the oceans harming and killing marine...
Words: 1515 - Pages: 7
...use of plastic products and revert back to using paper products. However, while this may have satisfied the consumers who supported this initiative, it overlooked the many benefits of plastic recycling programs. As the Director of Environmental Affairs, Peter Oehl was faced with satisfying what his consumers and board of directors desired, versus pursuing the opportunity to start a much more eco-friendly recycling system which he believed would yield far greater future benefits. One of the key facts presented in the case study was that there are many benefits to using plastic, as long as it is done correctly. Early on, McDonald’s launched an advertising campaign showing just how advantageous the use of plastic was. First, they showed evidence of the many materials plastic can be recycled into. Then, they cited that even if they used the proposed was paper, the wax on the paper would still need to be separated in order to decompose properly. Additionally, they pointed out that if paper products in landfills aren’t exposed to air, water, and micro-organisms, they would not breakdown and biodegrade as planned. Next, they also exposed the fact that paper mills consumed far more energy and product more waste than plastic manufacturing plants did at that time. Furthermore, they went on to spread education on the superiority in sanitation levels that disposable plastic products had over reusable plates, cups, and utensils. Lastly, McDonald’s specified that their plastic products...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...recycling old paper into new paper, to making an old hubcap into a decorative birdbath. In reality, recycling can get pretty complex -- how it interacts with our environment, our politics, our economy and even our own human behaviour patterns will play a major role in the future of our planet. What is Recycling? Recycling can take many forms. On a small scale, any time you find a new use for something old, you're recycling. One example is making old cereal boxes into magazine holders Recycling becomes more important on larger scales. At this level, used consumer goods are collected, converted back into raw materials and remade into new consumer products. Aluminum cans, office paper, steel from old buildings and plastic containers are all examples of materials commonly recycled in large quantities, often through municipal programs encouraging bulk household collections. It's rare for a recycled product to be exactly the same as the original material from which it was recycled. Recycled paper, for example, contains ink residue and has shorter fibers than virgin paper (paper made from wood pulp). Because of this, it may be less desirable for some purposes, such as paper used in a copy machine. When a recycled good is cheaper or weaker than the original product, it's known as down-cycling (or downstream recycling). Eventually, goods move so far down the recycling stream it isn't feasible to recycle them any further. After being recycled a few times, paper is no longer...
Words: 5288 - Pages: 22
...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
...getting rid of the smell. For residents near the Rolling Hills landfill, there are health concerns surrounding air quality. Hydrogen sulfide as of last December, reached a level where it is a public health hazard. For the people that live in the nearby community, breathing in the highest levels of H2S for 30 minutes is high enough that it could cause headaches, and irritation of the nose or throat. Because the complaints local government came in and levied fines against the landfill, and has stopped them from bringing in more trash until there are improvements made to the facility (Florida County responds to complaints about landfill odor) (Wedgewood Community Update) (County officials close Rolling Hills landfill). 2. The impact of plastic bags on the environment is pretty severe....
Words: 981 - Pages: 4
...The question of whether to use paper bags or plastic bags has its roots in environmental science but the underlying reasons are often overlooked. In "Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment", author Adam B Summers puts forth a detailed argument for the use of plastic bags. In doing so, he employs a variety of rhetorical elements to persuade the reader, including appeal to identity, statistics and results from health research. Adam Summers's deft use of appeal to identity begins with this discussion of a bill that would ban the use of plastic bags in California. Summers expresses his contempt for "some politicians and environmentalists are now focused on deciding for us what kind of container we can use to carry our groceries". Summers uses...
Words: 425 - Pages: 2
...to re-evaluate their shopping experience, as Austin will be 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...
Words: 3224 - Pages: 13
...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
...Origins | 3,4 | Supply | 4,5 | Waste recycling in Abu Dhabi | 5 | Sorting waste | 5 | Workplace Recycling Programs | 6 | Public Recycling Venues | 6 | Government Initiatives | 7 | Distribution of Waste Bins for Villas | 7 | Underground Waste System | 7 | Tariff System for Business Establishmentsh | 8 | Conclusion | 8 | References | What is recycling? Recycling is a process using materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to plastic production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy. Origins Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC. During periods when resources were scarce, archaeological studies of ancient waste dumps show less household waste (such as ash, broken tools and pottery)—implying more waste was being recycled in the absence of new material. Supply For a recycling program to work, having a large, stable supply of recyclable material is crucial. Three legislative options have been used to create such a supply: mandatory recycling collection, container deposit legislation, and refuse...
Words: 1406 - Pages: 6
