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. Such plastic garbage when comes in contact with soil, air and water, it. Environmental impacts of plastic bags blogging hub. Social perceptions of singleuse plastic consumption of. Plastic impact on human health we are incrementally using plastic to each passing year. Plastic bags can have various negative impacts on the environment. A field survey of the city of uyo and the surrounding areas. But the government study estimated that cotton bags are only used 51 times, making them worse for the environment than plastic. In this article, youll learn the different facts about plastic and paper bags, the benefits of reusables and some tips to make the most out of your reusable bags.
The effects of plastic bags on environment healthguidance. Plastic waste also has the ability to attract contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants pops. While these initiatives likely arise from a sincere effort to prevent litter and help the environment, officials often overlook the negative economic impact, and overstate the environmental impact, of these policies. All plastic bags that are produced and imported into our. The impacts of plastic waste on our health and the environment are only just becoming apparent. Plastic bags are a huge threat to the environment as an estimated 1 trillion. This study was commissioned by the environment agency and assesses the life cycle environmental impacts of the production, use and disposal of different carrier bags for the uk in 2006.
Additionally, plastic bags can get caught on plants, preventing them from getting the light or nutrients they need. All these facts suggest that plastic bags are also widely utilized products in other big cities of the country. These include efforts to ban or tax products such as plastic bags. Similarly, if bags are reused in subsequent sho pping trips or passed on to. Collection, hauling and disposal of plastic bag waste cre ate an additional environmental impact.
Danger to animal life, especially when they find their way into the sea. Plastic shopping bags are widely reused as trashcan liners, the british environmental agency study points out. Plastic bags are one of the most objectionable types of litter in urban areas. A field survey of the city of sana a and the surrounding areas, yemen. Certain policies can have unintended negative consequences. When they are banned, the study adds, consumers purchase more plastic trash bags. Jan 10, 2018 the vast majority of people would agree that plastic bags ruin the appearance of just about every imaginable habitat, from forests and fields to deserts and wetlands. Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Jul 22, 2018 plastic bags are a huge threat to the environment as an estimated 1 trillion such bags are consumed worldwide every year. In 2015, the city of chicago joined their ranks when it implemented a. Heres how plastic bags impact the environment youtube.
The sheer volume of plastic waste generated coupled with energy and material resources required for production, as well as emissions resulting from these processes paint a grim picture of the environmental havoc created by plastic bags. Sadly however this is only a fraction of the straws in our oceans. Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment. A plastic bag, polybag, or pouch is a type of packaging made of thin. The impact of plastic bags on the environment greentumble. The impacts of plastic in our environment are dramatic and. T h esu rv y ltin dc ag of x, educational level, age group and occupation, majority of the city residents widely used plastic bags in their daily life activities. Despite their size, the environmental impact of plastic straws is a significant problem in our seas and on our beaches. An estimated 1 to 3 percent of american plastic shopping bags wind up cluttering the environment outside of landfills.
But, this aesthetic deterioration isnt a frivolous concern. Aug 18, 2018 the effects of plastic bags on the environment. Once you get home, youll throw the shopper bag in the litter outside. Studies show that alternatives which seem greener actually place a greater burden on the environment because they require more natural resources to produce and transport, they emit more carbon throughout their lifecycles and they need more energy to. Iv bags and tubing alone constitute up to 25% of hospital waste. Environmental impacts the environmental impacts of plastic bag use include. A field survey of the city of sanaa and the surrounding areas, yemen article pdf available november 2014 with 114,005 reads how we measure reads. Due to the problems associated with singleuse plastic bags and following signing of legislation related to plastic bags1, governor cuomo convened the new york state plastic bag task force in february 2017 to develop a report and proposed legislation to address the detrimental impact of plastic bags on the states environment. Close behind caps, plastic bags, water bottles and cigarette butts.
On average, 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Plastic bags, and to a lesser extent paper bags, are often used as waste basket liners. Plastic bags are the most environmentally friendly option at the checkout. Taiwan has banned both plastic bags and plastic utensils. The usage of plastic is increasing exponentially from the last century. Using custom reusable grocery bags over plastic or paper bags can save on money, resources and have a positive impact on the environment as well. As it breaks down, plastic particles contaminate soil and waterways and enter the food web when animals accidentally ingest them. Most of our knowledge is around plastic waste in the marine environment, although there. Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment and. Pdf using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment. Production of plastic bottles requires fossil fuels. Of this, 50% is for disposable applications such as packaging. By h mohammed imran plastic bags and its impact on environment a study conducted at gangolli 2.
Different conclusions were drawn from the above studies, which are given below. Plastic bags dont biodegrade, they photodegrade breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits. Plastic bags create visual pollution problems and can have harmful effects on aquatic and terrestrial animals. The harmful effects of plastic on aquatic life are devastating, and accelerating.
Plastic bags are quite commonly mistaken for food by animals, especially when the bags carry food residues, are brightly coloured or are animated by the movement of water. There is no way to strictly limit the effects of plastic bags on the environment because there is no disposal method. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. Ingesting marine debris can seriously harm marine life. Moreover, a study of 38 green turtles found that 61 percent had ingested some form of marine debris including plastic bags.
The plastic with its worst impact on our community and environment is the one that we use and throw, such as water bottles, plastic bags, sachets, pouches or other packaging. Aug 03, 2018 in this our changing climate environmental video essay, i look at the environmental impact of plastic bags. In addition to the use of natural resources and waste from plastic bag production, plastic bags can increase the risk of flooding. Environment agency in the united kingdom found that cotton bags would have to be used 103 times before they yielded environmental benefits. Comparison of environmental impact of plastic, paper and. Their count found that straws and stirrers were the 7th top collected plastic item. Moreover, a study of 38 green turtles found that 61 percent had ingested some form of marine debris including plastic bags, cloth, and rope or string bugoni et al. The environmental consequences of plastic bag use can be seen across all realms of earth. Even if they make it into the garbage, 100 billion bags take up space. Oct 09, 2014 on average, 300 million tons of plastic are produced around the globe each year. Again, the role of plastic waste in the impact of these toxic chemicals is unclear. Plastics are produced from the waste products of oil refining.
Worse yet, any plastic that makes it into the environment will stay in the environment, forever harming wildlife in the future. The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really quite devastating. When it comes to having an environmental impact, plastic bag bans and fees cant hold a candle to reducing, reusing and recycling these materials. Records showed that the amount of plastic made in the first 10 years of 21 st century is equal to the amount of plastic made in the whole 20 th century. May 07, 2018 additionally, plastic bags can get caught on plants, preventing them from getting the light or nutrients they need. Effect of plastic grocery bags on environment and its reuse. When plastic degrades, toxic chemicals in the plastic are released into the environment. Impact of plastic bags, bottles and waste on oceans, humans and animals life.
This is particularly so in the marine environment since many of these contaminants are hydrophobic, which means they do not mix or bind with water. In 2008, approximately 10 billion lightweight carrier bags were given away in the uk which equates to around 10 bags a week per household defra 2009. New york has led the nation by taking bold action to protect our environment and this task force marks another step forward in that effort, governor cuomo said. A plastic bag can take between 400 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment. Here are some facts about the environmental impact of plastic bags.
Using plastic bags and its damaging impact on environment and agriculture conference paper pdf available december 2011 with 17,315 reads how we measure reads. Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. Although plastic bags make up only a small percentage of all litter, the impact of these bags is nevertheless significant. Because they never break down completely, plastic bags can clog storm drains and other areas which can eventually cause severe flooding.
The reuse of conventional hdpe plastic and other lightweight carrier bags for shopping andor as binliners is pivotal to their environmental. Seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals often ingest marine debris that they mistake for food. Impact of national bans and levies on plastic bag usage. Consumption of plastic bags and its impact on environment. A field survey of the city of sanaa and the surrounding areas, yemen. Plastic bags, environmental degradation, impact on agriculture. For the sake of reducing the scope of the research, the focus is set on plastic bags and bottles. Three of the most common singleuse products that we use on a daily basis are. Why are plastic grocery bags bad for the environment.
The delicate natural cycles that balance ecosystems are being put into jeopardy. When you buy something, like foodstuff or clothes, the shopkeeper will normally pack them for you in a shopper bag. Assessment of impacts of options to reduce the use of singleuse plastic carrier bags 5 3. Such use reduces waste bag purchases, and thereby yields environmental benefit. For example, whales and sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for squid, and birds often mistake plastic pellets for fish eggs. In this our changing climate environmental video essay, i look at the environmental impact of plastic bags. Be conscious of your choices, and encourage those around you to think twice before they throw away plastic or buy unnecessary plastic items. The study by franklin associates, which compared the impact of singleuse paper and polyethylene bags in the usa, assumed a ratio of. Survey on the usage of plastic bags, their disposal and.
Aug 18, 2018 plastic bags can have various negative impacts on the environment. Assessment of impacts of options to reduce the use of. The impact of plastic bags on the environment project topics. Singleuse plastic bags also are often lost to landfill instead of being recycled, or they contribute to litter in our communities, natural areas. Many countries have banned plastic bags due to public concern over the serious negative impact on the environment and agriculture, especially, in agricultural countries, such as bangladesh, india. Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistaken them for food. Assessing the impact of the complete ban on plastic carry bag. Read the positive and negative effects of plastic on our environment, our lives and society. Threats to the environment plastic bags are notorious for their interference in natural ecosystems and for causing the death of aquatic organisms, animals and birds. Considering their somewhat placid appearance, the impact of plastic bags on the environment can be devastating. Specifically, i look at how plastic bags affect oceans via microplastics, their carbon. One big problem with plastic, of course, is that its production requires. When it comes to having an environmental impact, plastic bag bans and fees cant hold a candle to reducing, reusing and recycling. A field survey of the city of sanaa and the surrounding areas, yemen article pdf available november 2014 with 114,005 reads how we.