In this essay I will be writing about the controversial topic of “Should plastic bags
and bottles (or other pollutants) be banned?” Throughout my essay I will spend time
describing and analyzing the pros as well as the cons of banning plastic bags. There
are many viewpoints, but we must understand that there are many possibilities and
solutions to the environmental problems that seem to be caused.
“Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned - Why It Is Harmful for Health.”
[Link], 30 Aug. 2018,
[Link]/environmental-issues/why-plastic-bags-should-be-banned/.
Throughout this article, the authors describe how plastic bags harm the
environment and cause long term health problems that may not become present until
later in people's lives. As stated in the article “plastic bags are made of colours and
dyes, metals and other inorganic chemicals.” In turn there are silent killers within plastic
bags that harm the environment and cause health issues that may be even overlooked
or viewed as “natural” caused illnesses.
EntwistleDirector, Abigail. “Plastic Pollution: Our Disposable Life.” Fauna & Flora
International,
[Link]/news/plastic-pollution-disposable-life?gclid=CjwKCAjw6-_eBRBXEi
wA-5zHaVm_KgFsFudHdxD5i6boP5Zs3z91kbi2u4pC6sNQsE7cGpkvPIlzrBoCGaUQAv
D_BwE.
My next point of this paper is the harm that plastic bags and bottles have on the
ocean and wildlife. There are different types of plastics that pollute our oceans and
harm the wildlife. Things called microplastics are what is doing this damage. In the
article, these killers are described as “These tiny particles are what is left when larger
plastic items break up over time, but they also enter the ocean directly as so-called
‘microbeads’.” The overwhelming amount of plastic that is polluting the earth gives good
reason to ban plastic bags, bottles, and other pollutants.
“Why Plastic Bags Should Not Be Banned | Plastic Bag Source.” Plastic Bag Source
Official Blog | Updates, Information & Buying Tips, 23 Apr. 2018,
[Link]/blog/6-reasons-why-plastic-bags-should-not-banned/.
On the other side of the argument, this article contests the banning of plastic
bags and other plastic products. Their reasoning is that yes, plastic products are very
harmful to the earth, but even the alternatives are no better and are possibly worse. As
mentioned in the article, “Unfortunately, alternatives occupy similar or more space than
the plastic they are coming to replace. Further, these alternative materials are
manufactured using synthetic products and would last years before degrading.” This
means that no matter what alternative is used, the issue will still remain. Also, in the
article it is mentioned that “It was discovered that plastics use fewer chemicals, less
water and the amount of greenhouse gas emitted is significantly low. “ This was
suggested as another reason that plastic bags and products do not need to be banned.
“29 Reasons Not to Ban Plastic Bags.” Davis Enterprise, 14 Aug. 2012,
[Link]/local-news/dunning/29-reasons-not-to-ban-plastic-bags/.
Another article on the “no” side of thing is this one stating many reasons as to
why we should not ban plastic bags and products. Although, this article is humerous, it
describes many simple uses we have for plastic products that most people would
overlook when presenting the argument to ban plastic bags. Overall, this article gives
more of a reason to not ban plastic bags because they do things that the alternatives
cannot while contributing the same amount of harm to the environment.
“One Plastic Bag.” The Ohio Digital Library,
[Link]
For my final point, I am using an ebook from the Sinclair library that talks about
the origin of plastic bags as well as the benefits and the disadvantages of plastic bags.
This ebook is called “One Plastic Bag” and discusses the impact that something as
simple as one plastic bag does to the environment.