"Bag Ban" Benefits

After reading Wes Davis’ take on the “Bag Ban” in Austin, I commend his lengthy opinions on both the pros and cons of ridding plastic bags.

Disadvantages of ridding these non-biodegradable bags include the convenience to the consumers, such as being able to wad them up into small amounts and store them in packed tight spaces, requiring less space and composed of less weight than paper bags, and convenience to retailers, as plastic bags are very cost-effective at a fraction of a cent per piece, in comparison to five cents or more per paper bag. As for me personally, I enjoy using plastic bags as my trash bags for the tiny trash cans that are easily transportable. I agree that even going to the grocery store, while forgetting my bags to take with me, is a pain at times.

Some of the advantages that Davis had not mentioned include the durability and strength of paper bags over plastic ones, as I am able to transport a variety of belongings without the paper bag ripping on me. Also, I agree with Davis that the economic benefits for the store must be greater now that people are obligated to buy bags at the checkout.

As far as convenience and costs goes, plastic bags conquer paper bags; however, the cost on the environment definitely does not compare to these overhead benefits that might come with the ban.

Davis states that discontinuing the use of plastic bags is obviously good for the environment, but he does not delve into how exactly the environment benefits or is harmed. This leads me to take an expanded view on the effect of this ban towards the environment.

Plastic bags are detrimental to the environment through the way they degrade -- in fact, these bags take an enormous length of time to degrade, and end up breaking down into contaminating particles that pollute the soil and nearby water sources. This means damage to the marine life; many aquatic animals mistake the bags for food, resulting in the death of around 100,000 marine animals a year. Thousands of birds also die from swallowing and choking on the discarded particles. Even more, the non-renewable source of petroleum that is used to make plastic bags could be used for transportation or heating.

Though very few, the advantages that plastic bags have on the environment include its smaller weight, which reduces to less solid waste in the landfill. According to EPA, the manufacturing of paper bags requires 40 percent more energy to produce them, contributes 70 percent more air pollution, and adds 50 percent more to water pollution.

My only other contention, or added opinion, is that I do not believe ridding of the plastic bags will help the nation’s garbage management, which is crucial for a solution concerning our situation now. We are in need of a cost-effective process for collecting and recycling the remaining plastic bags that still circulate, or at least to find a way for these bags to degrade safely so to not clog waterways and spoil the landscape.

I agree with Davis in that the benefits of the ban exceed the disadvantages, especially since the condition of our environment is what we should be taking care of the most. The condition of the earth is what will sustain the life that inhabits it; therefore, I place much higher priority in supporting the legislation that helps preserve marine and human life. I also find reusable bags to be very handy and effective, and the economic benefits reign towards the ban on plastic bags.

In all, the environment and economy is greatly aided through this bag ban; we are able to contribute to the collecting, disposing, and street-cleaning costs, and also reduce the numerous bags that are being wastefully thrown away. I believe that this ban should be upheld in other states for the betterment of our environment and economy.