benchmark essay

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Nuha Mirza

8-1

Ms. Monique

June 9, 2014 Alternative Energy:

Should Plastic Bags Be Completely Banned?

Nobody wants to pollute the environment on purpose. Research

proves that plastic bags damage nature, they kill animals, they don’t only create environmental problems, but also reinforces the perception of a wasteful society.

Plastic is a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, nylon, etc., that can be molded into shape while soft, and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. “Plastic causes pollution, and it also causes harm to animals and marine life”(Bethany Wieman and Demand Media, 24 May 2014). Today the leading cause of pollution and harming people and animals are plastic bags. These days’ plastic bags are being used very often, in fact plastic bags are being used in people’s daily lives and that is why pollution is being caused so much these days. Air pollution consists of solid particles and gases. “Many pollutants are carcinogens. People who breathe in these poisons are at a higher risk for asthma and reproductive-system damage. Environmental Protection Agency, birth defects can also be caused by air pollution.”(Bethany Wieman and Demand Media, 24 May 2014). Plastic bags litter the landscape; kill animals, and defeats biodegradation.

Mirza 2 Each year, more and more bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets, and plastic bags also clog water bodies, canals. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes. One of the worst environmental effects is they are non-biodegradable. “The decomposition takes about 400 years. No one will live so long to witness decomposition of plastic.” (Rita Putatunda, December 14, 2011). “Plastic generally degrades in about 500 - 1000 years, though we may never know its actual degradation time, as this material has been in long-term use only since the last century.”( Amruta Gaikwad, September 29, 2011). During its manufacture, many hazardous chemicals are emitted that can lead to dreadful diseases in humans as well as other animals. Most people tend to throw plastic bottles and plastic bags away, even after a single use. This increases its pollution rate on land as well as in the oceans, mainly in the developing and undeveloped countries. “Every year, about 100 million tons of plastic are produced all over the world. Out of this, 25 million tons of non-degradable plastic gets accumulated in the environment. Approximately 70000 tons of plastic are dumped in the oceans and seas globally.”(Amruta Gaikwad, September 29, 2011). “Many diseases are caused by using plastic and plastic bags, diseases such as hot food in a plastic container or a plastic bag causes cancer, and plastic bags also cause heart problems and bacterial viruses”(Beth Terry, 5 December, 2012).

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When plastic bags are burned poisonous toxic gases are released and they get mixed in the atmosphere which pollutes the air and when it pollutes the air it starts to spread all over the world and start to harm peoples lives, animals and marine life. People get severe diseases, which they aren’t even aware of, plastic bags also trouble in breathing they cause many kind of lung diseases.

Plastic bags are a danger to our animal and marine life. Countless plastic bags end up in oceans and harm our marine life. Many marine animals and birds mistakenly ingest plastic bags or get entangled choke in bags floating around. “Environmentalists pointed out that turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and swallow them. It is estimated 100,000 marine animals die each year because of plastic litter ending up in the North Pacific.”(Laura Beans, August 6, 2013). Terrestrial animals too die from eating plastic. The plastic stays in animals’ digestive system for a longer time, due to which they stop eating food and die of starvation.

Reason people should say no to plastic bags and move to only paper bags (made from recycled paper). Plastic bags lead to the depletion of theses non-renewable natural resources. “It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce the amount of plastic bags the US uses per year.”(Laura Beans, August 6, 2013). Can people imagine what it takes to produce all the plastic bags used across the world. Whereas paper bags made from recycled paper, help in reducing the burden on natural resources and would also put to better use. Plastic bags lead to environmental hazards. “A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose on land, and 450 years in
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water, while a paper bag decomposes in 3-6 weeks time. An average person uses about 350 to 400 plastic bags per year.”(Smith, Oct 2, 2011).

Yes, plastic bags should be banned. People can see from the research that plastic bags are a major eyesore; they pollute the environment, harm animals, our marine life and human beings. People should care for our environment. Lets pledge to carry our own shopping bags, if not at least insist on a paper bag. People should reuse, reduce and recycle. So this clearly reveals that not only plastic bags but also plastic it self is very harmful to our environment, so say no to plastic bags and move on to paper bags.