When Did Plastic Bags Go Evil?

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Plastic bag containers are more sanitary than paper equivalents for many types of foods. They keep foods fresh longer, are more lightweight and can be formed to have handle for ease of carrying that surpass the ability of paper.  Concerns of a more recent nature are that of the possibility of malicious product tampering. Product tampering measures often involve a plastic seal that is created at the point of production and in not broken until the end consumer uses it.

A plastic bag or other product that uses plastic sealing methods cannot be maliciously accessed without visible damage showing whereas paper by its nature, would have been folded and taped to some degree. The non-permeability of plastics alone makes its use for food and food products safer than paper which could absorb poisonous, toxic or any other liquid substances it could come in contact with. And of course if the plastic is of the right type, it can be incinerated in any waste-to-energy facility just like paper.

Lastly, if all else fails plastic bags buried in landfills would be stable and inert. The ultimate ‘do no harm’ would be achieved. It behaves more like paper and it would remain ’stable’ for a very long time.

But the Problem with Plastic is…

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…Improper disposal!

Thrown onto the ground and left alone, it will not decay or break down easily and could lay there for hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years. Often, garbage that includes plastic bags, bottles and related plastic products ends up in the world’s oceans where they entangle and kill marine animals and birds. Sea Turtles will mistakenly eat plastic bags, probably thinking they are jellyfish or sea kelp. Doing so will in all likelihood cause bindage in their stomach, causing the animal to die.

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Whales too could ingest the plastic items and become impacted and die from the obstruction in their intestinal tract. Birds will rest upon floating piles of plastic garbage seeking food and become ensnared, eventually drowning for the lack of ability to escape, die of hunger.

Reports cite as many as ‘one-hundred  thousand deaths’ but there was never any scientific data to support this number given. Not for plastic bags, anyway. -Lost fishing gears (nets, ropes, etc.) was the subject of that report.

Fish seeking shelter will hide amongst the plastic flotsam and become entangled, often carrying pieces of plastic string around their bodies which become tighter as the fish gains girth. The entangled plastic string, nylon rope or shards becomes a virtual plastic garrote which becomes tighter and tighter as the fish grows in size, torturing and maiming, eventually causing death.

A fish or marine mammal such as a whale or dolphin might fail to mate under such an unnatural condition, depriving a future progeny. Or at least this is the oft-cited over-exaggerated claims. It is more a matter of discarded fishing nets and banding straps that do the actual killing, and not ‘plastic bags.’ We could still err on the side of correctness and not fill our oceans and cover our beaches with discarded plastic water bottles, though.

Waste Not or Have Not

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We can blame plastic for a multitude of environmental sins. But plastic is not the problem. People are the problem. With conscientious environmental awareness we are gradually moving away from plastic bags, but let’s not break an arm patting ourselves on the back just yet. The reusable products that are replacing plastic bags are, -plastic cloth-like bags!

Reusable Bags Made from Plastic Bottles!

Plastic bottles and recycled plastics are being spun into new ‘eco-friendly’ carry-all totes, sandals and clothes but let’s not forget that these are still plastic. What are we going to do with these when they have outlived their useful life? Why, -throw them away of course! And then buy more, believing that because we are buying ‘recycled plastics’ again, we’re making a positive difference.