Plastic Bags Should be Banned And Here Is Why
Plastic bags are widely used because they are lightweight and thus easy to move. Furthermore, unlike cloth or paper bags, we do not need to purchase these when we go shopping. These are economical and thus freely given by shopkeepers on the purchase of goods. Plastic bags are preferred by both shopkeepers and customers for all of these reasons. However, we must look beyond the present moment and consider the big picture.
Here are some of the major issues caused by plastic bags:
Plastic bags are not biodegradable. As a result, getting rid of them is the most difficult challenge. They rot away into small particles and enter the soil and water bodies, but they do not decompose completely. They remain in the soil and water for hundreds of years, releasing toxic chemicals that harm our beautiful planet.
They are destroying nature as a result of their harmful effects. Today, plastic bags are a major source of land pollution. Plastic bags that have been discarded are disposed of in landfills, within which they decompose beyond a period of 500 years.
These bags are light in weight and can be carried far and wide by the wind. Land pollution is caused by the litter they leave on the ground and landfills. Plastic bags that enter water bodies are a major source of water pollution. As a result, they are wreaking havoc on our environment in every way possible.
Plastic particles are consumed by animals and marine creatures along with their food. Plastic cannot be digested and thus becomes trapped in its intestines. A large amount of plastic accumulates in the intestines of various animals and sea creatures, causing serious health problems in them. Occasionally, animals will gulp the entire plastic bag by accident. This becomes lodged in their throats or intestines and chokes them to death.
Sea turtles, in particular, have been known to consume the entire plastic bag in one go, mistaking it for jellyfish. According to research, waste plastic bags have been a major cause of untimely animal deaths.
Toxic chemicals are released during the manufacturing of plastic bags, which can cause serious ailments among those who work in such industries.
Food packed in plastic bags can also pose health risks. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, waste plastic bags pollute the environment. The polluted environment is a major contributor to the spread of various diseases among humans.
Waste plastic bags are frequently washed down with water or blown by the wind and become entangled in drains and sewers. Clogged sewers and drains can endanger both humans and animals, especially during rainstorms. Water accumulates as drains become clogged by plastic bags. This can lead to a flood-like situation and disrupt people’s normal lives.
We need to understand the issues that easy-to-carry plastic bags are causing and put a stop to their use. It is past time for our government to enact stringent regulations prohibiting the use of plastic bags.
Hub
School of Intensive Teaching