Usage of PLASTIC Bags...

@subathra (3519)
India
October 16, 2007 11:04am CST
Although many say it is harmful, the usage of plastic is increasing rapidly.A very few shop owners are considerate in using papers bags instead of plastic. when waste is burned one could see the bad smell emenate from this due to plastic bags in more number occupying the waste which is not good for humans who intake this smell..More over these plastic bags doesnot decay and remain in the soil which makes the soil unsuitable for any purpose.. Nowadays i could see lot of people prefer to use eco friendly bags instead of plastic carry bags.. Even personally i use plastic bags but i restrict the usage and only when there more and more people realise this true fact then this plastic bags usage will be stopped and a proper alternate solution could be found..or else proper disposal system of these used bags need to be found to make the environment clean and safe.. please share your views..
3 people like this
16 responses
• Malaysia
18 Oct 07
I live in a country where we don't give things in paper bags, only except in places like bodyshop and some clothing stores. Our grocery stores only gives plastic bags, which most of the time, people prefer as they use the plastic bags to store rubbish. Plastic bags are easier and they don't break easily like paperbags. So when there is a spill in whatever you throw, things will not seep out. It is sad to say that I live in a country that does not really care about the environment, sure, sometimes they are trying like having recycling bins or etc. But it's just not enough, I think that the government should implement things like this and start educating the younger ones and teach the older ones to care for the environment because who knows when the ozone layer's hole will get bigger and the global warming signs get worst...
3 people like this
@subathra (3519)
• India
19 Oct 07
you are right..as these plastic bags doesnt decay it surely spoil the environment..i know the world is aware of this but not taking enough measures to sort this problem..even in India plastic bags are used everywhere..
2 people like this
@unisis (1673)
• Indonesia
19 Oct 07
That's right you are good that making us aware of the ecologiclal importance of getting rid of the harmful effects of pollution by using the proper ways of waste disposal. We know plastic in all forms is a challenge for the environment. I agree with you the about problems of using plastic bags. it should not be used and disposed anywhere else. I am glad to hear that commercial establishments are going back to using paper bags as eco-friendly measures against pollution,paper bags may be to some extent replaced but not suitable for most of the goods. We should not overlook the covenience in using the plastic bag. They are light and strong at the same time and also water resistance. These features make plastic more preferable. I think the first thing to be done is as you said for some other alternate solution, at the same time it should be tried to workout recycling of plastic items. That will help a lot. The used plastic which being recycled will reduce the further production of plastic and thereby we can reduce the environmental pollution
@subathra (3519)
• India
19 Oct 07
you are absolutely right..plastic bags are easy to use and it can resist water and weight which papar bags cant do..but some urgent measure of recycling without causing any damage to environment is much needed..rated +
1 person likes this
@runsgame (2031)
• India
16 Oct 07
thanks subathra for discussing a vital and good point over here. it is really harmful to use the plastic bags. it is not only harmful it is not hygenic also . better to avoid this and save our country
2 people like this
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
well said..tnks for the response..rated you ++++
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
18 Oct 07
You are careful enough to have found out this issue that there are many shops which offer plastic bags. These plastic bags are not eco-friendly to the environment at all as they don't get rotten at all in the soil but damage the environment. I am also getting worried about this as much as you do. I do hope that there will be more manufacturers producing paper bags instead for the protection of the earth and the environment for our generations yet to come.
1 person likes this
@subathra (3519)
• India
19 Oct 07
Very well said...rated +
@zidlore (251)
• Philippines
17 Oct 07
Eliminating the usage of plastic bags will be a very hard task to do, it is used everyday around the globe. Why not create a plastic bag that decays, but still as affordable as the original plastic bag or cheaper? With that, we will not have trouble changing methods and routines. A substance that can make anything organic is a good idea too. With that, we can submerge all the plastic wastes in it, and let them decay. We will have richer soil and less garbage when that thing becomes a reality! With the fast advancement of our technology nowadays, I doubt that those inventions would take more than a century to develop.
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
This type of alternate solution is best..i too hope that some new method of destroying plastic bags be found to protect environment..
@Pompon (1757)
• Poland
17 Oct 07
I think it's bad to use so many plastic bags but they're tons of them in matkets. Honestly the only matket that has paper bags available is Tesco in here. And smaller shops don't provide it either. So the only thing I can do is to get one plastic bag and then don't trash it but take it with to the shop next time to reuse it. i do it as many times as its vitality let me to do it so I think I use about 10-13 times less plastic bags than people who use them only once. Not much but still something...
@subathra (3519)
• India
18 Oct 07
I too use plastic bags so many times and never throw them outside..just destroy them in fire...rated +
@ssh123 (31071)
• India
16 Oct 07
We cannot expect the businessmen (traders) to work for conservation and preservation of environment. They donot give it a damn. It is their business, maximization of profits becomes paramount for them. Even the housewifes and men who go to stores cannot insist paper covers or envrionemntal friendly bags, because it costs a lot. Where was these plastic covers some 50 years ago. I remember, my father used to ask me to bring something from grocery 3 kg or 4 kg of rice or dal or soji for our big family, the shop keeper patiently used to pack it in a cone form in newsppaer and hands it to us. Now everything in plastic bag. At least at home I destroy the plastic bags brought by others. I keep paper covers ready, if I have to give something to others. I replaced all plastic pet bottles, instead gone back to glass bottles. I had been to Ooty and I was amazed at the publicity and the care people have taken in banning the plastic bags. But still the tourists who use the plastic bags and indicriminately throw the bag in this hill station. I think the government should put a special tax of some percentage only to collect the plastic bags and do something, because it is not biodegradable. In schools there should be special lesson on ban of plastic bags, so that these children tell their parents not to use. Let children educate the parents!! Greater awareness on warfotting be done to ensure people use environmental friendly bags.
1 person likes this
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
tnks for the nice response..rated plus
• India
21 Nov 07
I think we people are more concerend about the present infact sovling the present moment need and never care about the future.plastic is light in weight,easy to manufacture and cheap too,these features really lure or attract people towards plastic and thus its use is incereasing,we rarely bother to listen about its side effects.its not so easily destroyable.you burn it,it pollutes air,thwow it in water,then water pollution.you bury it in soil then soil pollution,,so its really hard to destroy them without pollution.now i think its high time that we move to paper bags and cloth bags rather than using this plastics otherwise it would prove to be too costly for us.
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
16 Oct 07
I don't like paper bags. They are a hassle, and I've found roaches in the bottom of paper bags. Nasty. When you burn plastic bags, they quickly disappear. I guess I'm just not green.
1 person likes this
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
Anyway nice to note that you destroy plastic rather throwing it out which doesnt decay and spils the soil..
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
16 Oct 07
As time moves on more and more people are aware that the environment has to be looked after. My local supermarket encourages shoppers to buy material bags that are quite strong and can be used again and again. The plastic bags they give out are of a far poorer quality than before. This must put some people off using them. They are also bright orange, that is so eye catching. I have seen foldable shopping bags for ladies hand bags and think this is an excellent idea. I do use quite a number of small plastic bags to clean up after my dogs. I will try to restrict my use of other plstic bags I think.
1 person likes this
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
That sounds nice..tnks for writing a nice reply..
@rb200406 (1824)
• India
21 Oct 07
Plastics are not biodegradable.Thats why they are harmful to the environmanet.We should start using more eco friendly things like jute bags.They are more durable also & freinds to nature also.Actually plastics is one of the major reasons for choking of drains & flooding in each & every part of the country.
1 person likes this
@ryanphil01 (4182)
• Philippines
17 Oct 07
That's a good point subathra, making us aware of the ecologiclal importance of getting rid of the harmful effects of pollution by using the proper ways of waste disposal. We know plastic is non-biodegradable material therefore, it should not be used and disposed anywhere else. I am glad to hear that commercial establishments are going back to using paper bags as eco-friendly measures against pollution. Thus, we would be contributing more making our place even GREENER and suitable place to live.
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
tnks ryanphil for your wonderful response stating the restricted use of plastic bags..rated plus.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
17 Oct 07
There are many store that now use the eco friendly one that if not used within a few months automatically disinagrate. Dollar General is one of the stores in our area that use them. So if you get them and leave them lying around eventually they will disappear. I hope more stores will go to these and help the enviroment.
1 person likes this
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
I too hope atleast in near future people realise the value of environmental protection and start using paper bags..rated +
@saibunny (84)
• India
17 Oct 07
Plastic in all forms is a challenge for the environment. I agree with you the about problems of using plastic bags. But we should keep in mind that unless we find a proper alternate to this it will be difficult to replace it. Paper bags may be to some extent replaced but not suitable for most of the goods. We should not overlook the covenience in using the plastic bag. They are light and strong at the same time water resistance. These features make it more preferable. I think the first thing to be done is as you said for some other alternate solution, at the same time it should be tried to workout recycling of plastic items. That will help a lot. The used plastic being recycled will reduce the further production of plastic and thereby we can limit the environmental pollution.
@subathra (3519)
• India
17 Oct 07
I agree with you..rated + for your nice reply
• United States
29 Nov 07
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment and a huge nusiance period. I don't like using plastic bags, but we can't get around it because all the places we shop always insist on giving us large amounts of bags. We bring them home and use those bags as trash bags so we're not just throwing them away. They serve a purpose. And, I'm sure if we don't end up using all of those bags, I plan on taking them to Walmart to have them recycled.
@alamode (3071)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I turn plastic shopping bags into... well, plastic shopping bags! I cut them into strips and crochet large tote bags. I love finding different colors... the one I'm making now is pink and white, with black trim. Snazzy!