Plastic Bags Banned Around the Globe to Save the Earth
by Many countries and states have joined in the effort to ban plastic shopping bags, and you can do the same by stopping the use of plastic and styrofoam products.
A recent photo of a turtle carrying a plastic bag in its mouth hit the internet, and has me thinking about my own usage of these grocery bags. For years, plastic bags offer an easy way to handles, durable in transit, and reusable for other things.
However, since plastic bags take longer to biodegrade, many states have banned the use of plastic bags to save our earth. Take a look at these photos below, and change your mind about using them.
These photos are from: Plastic Pollution Destroys Marine Wildlife, and you can read more on this article. We don’t have to wait for our State to ban the use of plastic bag. We can take the change within ourselves.
Plastic Bags Banned in San Francisco
San Francisco is the first city in the U.S. to ban common plastic shopping bags. Since the banned of hard-to-recycle plastic, the city is estimated around five million fewer plastic bags every month! Some experts believe that bags are the bigger sources of pollution in the city also.
Banned Plastic Bags in Los Angeles
A bill is coming up for a vote to ban plastic bags by the year 2010 in Los Angeles, with a string that the State is not going to impose a quarter fee on customers requesting plastic bags. However, the City Council had ban Styrofoam at all city owned facilities. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are a big environmental hazard in Los Angeles.
Banned Plastic Shopping Bags in Connecticut Town
Following San Francisco and Los Angeles, Connecticut had joined in the effort of banning the use of free plastic shopping bags. Westport’s new rule is setting a fine at $150 for any store that offers plastic bags within its borders, and will go into effect early next year.
Banned on Plastic and Styrofoam in Seattle
Beginning in January of 2009, all Styrofoam products will be banned in Seattle. Then by 2010, all plastic would be banned, allow only biodegradable products. A fee of 20-cent per bag will be imposed at all supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores.
Free Plastic Bags Banned in China
On January 13, 2008, All Things Considered reported that China is also taking a lead in banning free plastic shopping bags. China is hoping this would save millions of barrels of oil each year, and Chinese shoppers are expected to buy or bring their own bags.
Plastic Bags-Free in England
Shopkeepers in Modbury of England have stopped using plastic bags, and some believe that this small population of 1,500 is the first plastic bag-free town in Europe. Bigger grocery chains offer customers money-incentives for reusing their old bags.
A Round-Up of Countries Involved in Banning Plastic Bags
- Leaf Rapids, in Canada became the first municipality in North America to forbid the use of plastic bags by shop. The fine is set at $1,000 Canada dollars.
- Germany offers their consumers the options of plastic bag, canvas, or cotton tote for a fee. Stores carries plastic bags have to pay a recycling fee.
- Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s Zanzibar islands have banned flimsy plastic, and also required a minimum thickness. A fee is charge for each plastic bag in the supermarket, or consumers can get a reusable basket with a minimum purchase.
- Ireland imposed a 32-cent fee on every plastic shopping bag, and resulted in a big cut on the number of plastic bags handing out.
- Swedish government advises the plastic bag industries to develop greener bags. Two of the country’s biggest grocery chains have made biodegradable paper bags and reusable cloth bags for shoppers.
- Continuing in banning plastic bags, the following States are also involved: Austin, Texas; Bakersfield, California; New Haven, Connecticut; Portland, Oregon; Boston, Massachusetts; Phoenix, Arizona; and Annapolis, Md.
What You Can Do to Help
- Buy re-usable bags
- Do not purchase Styrofoam plates, cups, and bowls
- Pick up plastic bags and bottles when you see them
- Pick up water balloons/balloons after the children played with them
- Collect all plastic materials, and take them to the recycling center
- Pick up cigarette butts, yes they are nasty, but you’re saving our planet
Whatever you can do, do it! Every small act adds up if everyone takes part in preserving our wildlife, and our environment.
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Post Commentlanne
On October 14, 2008 at 8:04 am
Nice article BC. We all need to start doing our part.
joel
On October 14, 2008 at 8:32 am
I use my plastic bags for my rubbish. Without them I need to buy special rubbish bags…
Uncle B
On October 14, 2008 at 8:42 am
If they made plastic bags a little stronger, we would reuse them, If the poor countries could roof and paper their shacks with the thicker bags,like shingles, it would keep people dry and warm. If we could make money recycling the thicker bags they would be recycled! Ban the ultra thin bags, institute a design for multiple use, recyclable, thicker bags, and lets get on with a better life!
roberto sardelli
On October 14, 2008 at 9:48 am
very interesting, very true. great article.
Eden Emersen
On October 14, 2008 at 10:31 am
Thanks for the pictures and reminder of just why recycling is so necessary. . . great picture finds!
MMV Abad
On October 14, 2008 at 10:40 am
Here in my town. Plastic bags are being limited. We are to use paper bags and banana leaves, instead. It is a tough change but it is a big help in minimizing garbage. A very nice article BC.
Emily James
On October 14, 2008 at 10:40 am
This is really thought provoking, which let’s face it, is what’s needed. Thanks
Emily James
On October 14, 2008 at 10:43 am
This is really thought provoking, which let’s face it, is what’s needed. Thanks
Note: could not click on like it, even after i’d refreshed the page!!
Kim Buck
On October 14, 2008 at 11:02 am
I am right on board with this. You can purchase re-usable shopping bags at Wal-Mart at the check out counter. Some people hate Wal-Mart but they are right there if you don’t for $1.00 a piece. Many fashion designers are now promoting reusable bags which carry a hefty price tag but again they are reusable.
CHAN LEE PENG
On October 14, 2008 at 11:33 am
This is an educational piece to save the world from being polluted with plastic made products. Thanks and take care, sister!
C A Johnson
On October 14, 2008 at 11:36 am
Great article, BC. I agree that we do need to do what we can to help save the planet.
Lindalulu
On October 14, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Ya we should ban them, but whats the replacement?
goodselfme
On October 14, 2008 at 1:56 pm
A little thought can save much. Thank you for your good info.
thestickman
On October 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Many plastic bottles are being ’spun’ into wool/yarn, and can be made into clothing. Many supermarkets here in Toronto and throughout Ontario Province are offering these ‘plastic bottle bags’ for a nominal fee (usually $1.oo) and you can use that instead of getting a ‘new’ plastic bag.
The answer is not simple; when I was a child, all that was beleive necessary was to put the trash INTO a trashcan and that would ’save the environoment’. We now know that this is only 1% of the problem; littering or dumping of collected trash, it’s 6 of 1 or a half-dozen of some other and it’s all wrong.
Plastics are melted-down to make picnic benches and boardwalks (for along beaches, etc.), so they can SURELY be made into shingled for tile-roof covering, etc. There will be a way, I am positive. -On another note, I was just reading about a ‘glueless adhesive tape’! It will use minute hair-like fibres which are small enough to use the Wan derWaals forces; the same ‘attractive energy’ that allows gecko lizards to walk up glass-surfaced walls!! Just another example of ‘can-do!’
Great story! Best!
-thestickman
ScrewLuk
On October 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Its great that they are finally doing some things to save the environment.
check mines out please
http://www.authspot.com/Short-Stories/The-Tragedy-of-Bob.295295
Alexa Gates
On October 14, 2008 at 6:41 pm
nice article
I’m not a huge envirmentalist but plastic is just terrible for the earth…and for everyone i mean my cousin almost ate some plastic when he was younger…
C. Jordan
On October 14, 2008 at 7:08 pm
A very worthy article and a sentiment I back whole heartedly.Every year the turtle population drops, because turtles feed on jellyfish and oftem mistake plastic bags for them.
Gon Pincha
On October 14, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Nice, finally we are doing something to help our planet
Good article, keep going =)
jhenz
On October 14, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I would agree that it should be banned. very good article!
valli
On October 14, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Banning plastic is very good. Great article, BC.
Terri Lane
On October 15, 2008 at 1:30 am
Yes, yes, yes! Here in Greece they are in overkill with plastic. The shops give huge bags with small purchases, the beaches, roads, trees etc. are all littered. What happened to shopping bags and baskets? A super article and one that needs a wide circulation!
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
On October 15, 2008 at 4:07 am
This one is very informative and thought-provoking. Each of us should avoid the use of plastic bags whenever possible.
Anne Lyken-Garner
On October 15, 2008 at 4:51 am
Great article! Good on you for bringing this out into the foreground.
BC Doan
On October 15, 2008 at 7:53 am
Thank you everyone for reading and commenting..This is something that we all can take part in.
@ lindalulu,
There are many alternatives to use in place of plastic bags, such as cloth or canvas bags, and wicker baskets. You can purchase these re-usable bags at many stores for about $1 dollar..
Joshua Miguel
On October 15, 2008 at 9:17 am
We need more articles like this. I will stumble this site. More power!
louie jerome
On October 15, 2008 at 10:43 am
Informative article and I agree that it is something we can all get involved in.
Layla
On October 16, 2008 at 11:39 am
Great article!
Yay let’s ban ‘em or tax ‘em!! & use reusables!!
)
Rumi
On October 16, 2008 at 3:13 pm
very well written,congratulations
Lauren Axelrod
On October 16, 2008 at 6:15 pm
What a wonderful environmental piece. Let’s all be green together.
eddiego65
On October 16, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Excellent article. And yes, let’s all be green together.
mcleotg
On October 16, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hey I liked you article maybe you could check out my articles and pictures their URL’s are:
http://www.notecook.com/Bread/Mays-Date-Loaf.299855
http://www.socyberty.com/History/Hippies-in-the-1960s.300467
http://www.picable.com/Art/Photography/Dangerous-Hummer.299339
http://www.socyberty.com/History/The-Battle-of-Fort-Sumter.299859
http://www.picable.com/Art/Digital-Art/Kindergarten-Cop.300627
http://www.authspot.com/Poetry/The-Maths-Teacher.300475
http://www.picable.com/Art/Digital-Art/Bert-the-Soldier.299829
Lost in Arizona
On October 16, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Those pictures are absolutely heart wrenching. Ever since I’ve been on my own, I haven’t used plastic bags. I try to go to places that actually use recycled paper bags. If we could just take a little more time to care about what we’re doing to this planet, then perhaps we’ll have a future. Excellent piece. Keep it up.
todd
On October 17, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Get a REUSABLE bag and save our planet from plastic bags!
http://www.TheBestBag.org
702-240-3457 x231 ask for Todd in promotional Dep’t
Free samples while supplies last.
Hein Marais
On October 18, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Great Article.
Geri
On October 19, 2008 at 10:20 am
Plastic bags are now banned in the Republic of Ireland because of the problems of getting rid of them safely. Here in the North most supermarkets have elected to reward people who use reuseable bags when shopping. The problems caused by plastic bags (especially at beaches and the countryside) is a big issue today. Excellent article Good luck
Rookie Expert
On October 20, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I always carry my own bags for shopping, have always done for as long as i can remember. When i was in college i use to get everything i needed from the same store behing my house which was a small family owned one. The owner called me “thaily dushman” which means ‘enemy of the plastic bag’, I obviously took pride in that. Sometimes i would get into a fight with him when i would asked him to stop using the bags, he would say “How can one small store’s ban on the bags save the planet?” Now Im thrilled to read this article – this is big and will save it (our planet).
Prudence
On December 25, 2008 at 9:40 am
There’s a lot of emotion splattered around on this page. How about inserting a few facts for balance? I’m tired of being dictated to by a totalitarian state that ’special interest groups’ feed with ideas as to how to impoverish and oppress the masses. So, before you get too carried away by your ‘feelings’, do read the facts at the link below so we can come to a truly environmentally and people friendly decision.
http://arpacanada.ca/index.php/issuesresearch/environment/47-environment/230-ban-the-bag
Richard Friesen is president of Big M Plastics in Lethbridge, Alberta. In this compelling article – written for ARPA Canada readers – Friesen dispels some of the myths surrounding the recent fad of “banning the bag” in communities across the country. As he persuasively explains, some efforts sound admirable and stewardly but we must be careful to do our homework before jumping on the bandwagon. There are reasons why plastic bags are being used so much. Let’s not be too quick to ignore these reasons.
Libby
On December 26, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hey Prudence…talking about “emotional splattered”, you ought to look at your little self..stop getting brain washed! This article has what it needs to remind people to do their best…
Mr Ghaz
On January 10, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Excellent! a must read for all Triond users. I really enjoy reading your work….You’re my good gurus!
mohan
On March 22, 2009 at 11:51 pm
now days the earth get polluted very fast due to usage of plastics things , we want stop the pollution fast , we don’t stop means we will phase a heavy damage in our future so we want to stop the pollution by stop use of the plastics. so we can save the earth very fast.
g.rohit kumar
On January 9, 2010 at 11:51 am
This project helpped me so much in getting the result.
G.ROHIT KUMAR
On January 9, 2010 at 11:57 am
Nowadays the people use more plastic accessories in the environment.this pollutes the environment more than that we think.so the “use of plastic sholuld be banned”…………..