What’s so bad about plastic bags?
Plastic bags are not biodegradable. They clog waterways, spoil the landscape, and end up in landfills where they may take 1,000 years or more to break down into ever smaller particles that continue to pollute the soil and water.
Americans throw away almost 100 billion plastic bags every year, and only 1 percent to 3 percent are ever recycled.
Plastic bags also pose a serious danger to birds and marine mammals that often mistake them for food. Thousands die each year after swallowing or choking on discarded plastic bags.
Finally, producing plastic bags requires millions of gallons of petroleum that could be used for transportation or heating.
Consider a personal ban on plastic bags
Some businesses have stopped offering their customers plastic bags, and many communities are either considering a ban on plastic bags or have already implemented one.