Nick Bolyard
Humanities 10
Mrs. Arnold
November 19, 2008
Did you know that one hundred thousand animals are killed because of….plastic bags? Plastic bags, compared to that of paper bags are the hardest to decompose. Due to the fact that plastic bags are made from oil, they take a longer amount of time to decompose. These plastic bags are easy to reuse, and recycle. There are many ways that you can stop the pollution and killing of animals due to plastic bags.
Some would say that paper bags are much easier to recycle. This is a false statement. According to reusable.com/facts, it takes ninety-one percent less energy to recycle one pound of plastic bags compared to the same amount of paper bags. Plastic bags are made from oil. This makes it easy for plastic bags to be melted down and reformed. Paper bags are made from trees. Both of which are a negative on our economy right now. If all of the oil industries made only oil, gas prices would go down and the recession that we are in would end. The making of paper bags is just as bad for the economy. Paper bags kill trees, which is hurting our global warming situation.
Although it is true that paper bags are much easier than plastic bags for the simple things like groceries and lunch, plastic can be used for a wide variety of things. According to California against Waste, only one to four percent of all 14 billion plastic items in California get recycled. So which one is better, paper or plastic? The truth is that they are both have the same number of advantages and disadvantages. There is a new solution to this problem. The new solution is a way to be “eco-sensible” according to The Cloth Bag Company. This new cloth bag is able to be recycled for anything. This bag has the ability to be used constantly for simple things, include hardware. Cloth bags also have the ability to hold up to forty pounds according to The Cloth Bag Company. Plastic bags are easier and more efficient for wet clothing, but should always be recycled.
Even though these bags are seemingly harmless, not recycling or reusing plastic bags could kill another innocent animal. In the California bay area, according to California against Waste, approximately eighty-six of all known species of sea turtles have had reported problems due to plastic bags. These are not the only problems. These plastic bags need to be recycled so that these turtles do not have this problem. When plastic bags and paper bags are thrown away, they take up most of the landfills. Also, according to The Cloth Bag Company, plastic produces fourteen percent of the toxic air emissions in the United States. Recycling plastic bags would save the lives of animals, and would free up landfills for the things are not able to be recycled. Most importantly, recycling plastic bags would also clean the air that we breathe.
There are still ways that you can stop this pollution. Paper and plastic bags are killing our environment. It is okay to use them, as long as they are recycled properly. Cloth is the best choice. Paper kills trees, plastic takes our oil, and cloth is made in a factory. All of which produce pollution. Cloth has the ability to be reused for anything, while paper and plastic rip easier. Many of the problems that our society has today are due to pollution. Pollution is simple to stop. Reduce the use of paper and plastic, reuse them, and recycle them when you are finished with the bag. So the next time you go to the grocery, which one will you choose, paper, plastic, or cloth?
Works Cited
“The problem with Plastic Bags.” California against Waste. 2007-2008. Found 12 Nov. 2008
“Paper Bags better than Plastic, Right?” 2007. Found 12 Nov. 2008
The Cloth Bag Company. 2000-2008. Found 19 Nov. 2008
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