Negative impact of plastic bags

2009-08-04T09:51:00.001-07:00

Negative Impact of Plastic Bags Video

2009-03-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Negative Impact of Plastic Bags by Letsbeegreener

2009-03-25T03:15:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-11-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Letsbeegreener's Article 'Negative Impact of Plastic Bags' now published on the Ethical Pulse Network

Get Ethical

2008-11-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Letsbeegreener products are now available in the Get Ethical Shop part of Ethical-Junction creating a sustainable community that is actively promoting the advance of ethical enterprise and lifestyle. Letbeegreener is an Ethical-Junction member.

2008-08-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

Blogs Directory

2008-07-31T07:03:00.001-07:00

This is London - 28.07.08 - Letsbeegreener Bag chosen as part of an Arniston Bay Competition Prize

2008-06-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

Letsbeegreener is pleased to announce our new website format, have a look & let us know what you think: http://reusablebags.letsbeegreener.co.uk

The Letsbeegreener Team

2008-05-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

Plant a tree, Letsbeegreener likes:
http://www.sponsortrees.co.uk/
http://www.greenmobile.co.uk/
Check them out

2008-05-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

Letsbee greener launches a new website: http://reusablebags.letsbeegreener.co.uk. Chrck it out & let us know which you think is better

negative impact of plastic bags

2007-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

Negative Impact of Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have been popular for many years because they are relatively cheap to produce, waterproof and durable. However, it’s their durability that makes them so unsuitable as disposable items. They are made from polyethylene, a product of petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource.

They are not biodegradable and are almost indestructible. They take an incredibly long time to break down and when they do, it’s into a “plastic dust” which contaminates animal life, the soil and the water, the oceans and the seas, forever.

Around a trillion plastic bags are used world wide every year (10 billion in the UK alone). They are environmentally unfriendly in the extreme, filling up landfills, blocking drains, littering the land and the oceans.

Many plastic bags are not recycled; they are dumped in landfills and escape into the environment by wind or water action. In South Africa, plastic bag litter is so common it is called the ‘national flower’.

Plastic bag litter has a devastating effect on animals, birds and marine life. They mistake them for food & die after ingesting plastic bags which have obstructed their digestive systems. Birds become trapped in plastic bags hanging off bushes and trees. Whales, seals, turtles and countless fish become entangled in them & suffocate or starve to death as a result. Prior to death, they 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.

Plant life on land is smothered and killed by plastic bag litter. In the oceans not all plastic floats, much of it sinks to the bottom where it smothers and kills marine plant life as well.

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 numbers 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.

Seanid M. Marchant

www.letsbeegreener.com