Letsbeegreener’s aim is to encourage people to reduce their use of plastic bags.
Plastic bags have been popular for many years because they are relatively cheap to produce, durable and waterproof. They are made from polyethylene which is a product of petroleum. However, plastic bags are almost indestructible. They are not biodegradable and take an incredibly long time, between 20 to several hundred years, to finally break down into plastic dust which contaminates soil, water, oceans, seas and animal life.
Around a trillion plastic bags are used world wide every year.
Of that, 10 billion of these bags are used in the UK alone annually. They are environmentally unfriendly in the extreme, filling up landfills, blocking drains and litter land, oceans and seas. In South Africa, plastic bag litter is so common they are called the ‘national flower’.
Plastic bag litter has a devastating effect on animals, birds and marine life.
In India, many cows have died after eating plastic bags. Birds have been killed as a result of being trapped in plastic bags hanging off bushes and trees. Whales, seals, turtles and countless fish have become entangled and suffocated, or starved to death after ingesting plastic bags which have obstructed their digestive systems. Prior to death, these animals, birds and marine life probably suffer severe discomfort and pain. After death, their bodies decompose and the plastic is released back into the environment where it may kill again.
Plastic bag litter can also smother plant life on land and on the bottom of oceans.
In the oceans not all plastic floats, much of it sinks to the bottom where it smothers and kills marine plant life.
How can we help?
Use long lasting biodegradable shopping bags: Natural cotton shopping bags are an excellent alternative to single use plastic shopping bags.
Re-use: All plastic bags, including any existing plastic single use bags in the home or business, should be re-used as often as possible, then recycled when no longer usable.
Recycle:This seems obvious and it may be assumed that everyone is already recycling, however, many are not.
Compost: Reduce the number of plastic bin liners you use by composting all biodegradable waste e.g. egg shells, fruit, vegetables etc.
Pick up plastic bag litter: Discard any litter picked up responsibly e.g. in a recycle bin.
Encourage others: Encouragement to do all of the above would probably work better than enforcement through legislation. Many people are becoming resentful of the word ‘green’ as they feel that it is just another form of stealth tax.
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