essay on ban plastic

Should Plastic be Banned Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on should plastic be banned.

Plastic bags are a major cause of environmental pollutio n. Plastic as a substance is non-biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become very essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin our planet completely. Many countries around the globe have either put a ban on the plastic bag or Levi tax on it. However, the problem hasn’t been solved completely because the implementation of these measures hasn’t been as successful.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

Non-Biodegradable

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Thus, disposing of the plastics is the biggest challenge. T

Deterioration of Environment

They are destroying nature due to their harmful effect. Plastic bags have become the main cause of land pollution today. The plastic bags entering into the water bodies are a major cause of water pollution . Hence we can conclude that these are deteriorating our environment in every possible way.

Harmful for Animals and Marine Creatures

Animals and marine creatures unknowingly consume plastic particles along with their food. Research shows that waste plastic bags have been a major reason for untimely animal deaths.

Cause of Illness in Humans

The production of plastic bags releases toxic chemicals. These are the main cause of serious illness. The polluted environment is a major reason for various diseases which are spreading easily in human beings.

Clogged Sewage

Waste plastic bags are the main reason for trapping the drains and sewers, especially during rains. This can result in a flood-like situation and disrupt the normal life of people.

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Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

There are numerous reasons why the government of various countries has come up with strict measures to limit the use of plastic bags. Some of these include:

• Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely.
• Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water.
• Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile.
• Plastic bags are having a negative impact on human health.
• Plastic bags lead to the drainage problem.

Public Support for Plastic Bag Ban

Although the Indian government has imposed a ban on the usage of plastic bags in many states. But people are still carrying these bags. Shopkeepers stop providing plastic bags for few days only in the beginning.

It is time when we all must contribute our bit to make this ban a success. Thus we the educated lot of society must take it as our responsibility to stop using plastic bags. In this way, we can support the government in this campaign.

Some contributions that can be made by people are as follows:

In order to be successful in this mission, we must keep reminding ourselves about the harmful effects of the plastic bags on our nature and keep a tab on their use. Gradually, we will become habitual to doing without these bags.

Seek Alternatives

There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags like reusable jute or cloth bag.

We must reuse the plastic bags we already have at home as many times as we can before throwing them away.

Spread Awareness

While the government is spreading awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags, we can also spread awareness through word of mouth.

Although plastic is becoming a big threat for all of us, still this problem has often been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. Besides all of these people keep using bags due to their convenience. But now everyone has to completely stop using the plastic bag to save our environment and earth.

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Just a Few Choice Arguments as to Why Plastic Should be Banned

Plastic bags have already been banned in many places, but some argue that plastics themselves should be entirely abolished.

Oct. 22 2020, Updated 5:16 p.m. ET

In terms of recycling, the world is in a much better place than it was a few decades ago. Plastic bags have already been banned in many cities, counties, and countries the world over. Recycled plastic is being used to make just about everything you could imagine. Toys, bottles, tumblers, cutlery, and even a few recycling bins are just the beginning of what we can do with recycled plastic. 

Unfortunately, recycling and repurposing the plastic is like putting a Band-Aid on a wound that already needed stitches to begin with. Plastics are everywhere, and while some, like those used for cars or appliances, are a necessary evil, many can be completely eliminated; that’s the argument at least. But how feasible is this solution and why are plastics so bad in the first place?

Why is plastic bad for the environment?

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Made from petroleum products, Baekland’s “ bakelite ” plastic was a revolutionary material. It was lightweight, could withstand heat and cold, could hold up over time, and best of all, it was cheap and easy to mass-produce. Baekland couldn’t have anticipated that plastic’s long-term durability would end up making so detrimental and dangerous for the environment. 

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. When it does break down — after a very long time, mind you — it turns into harmful nodules of microplasti c. These microplastic motes find their way into waterways, where they are digested by other creatures, including humans. They sit in the gut, piling up and leeching harmful elements into the body. 

Why is plastic bad for humans?

On top of being a pollutant, plastic is known to emit some radiation, and there are theories that some plastic water bottles are carcinogenic if used over time. This means that even using a reusable plastic water bottle isn’t a great idea either. If plastic is so bad for people and so bad for the environment, why are we still using it? 

Plastic’s highly-disposable nature is part of the problem as well. We can use a bottle of Gatorade for a few minutes and throw the bottle away when we’re done. It’s too easy and it always has been. It was only when we finally started to see the piles of plastic growing around us, piling up in landfills, and taking up huge swaths of the Pacific Ocean , that we decided something should be done. 

Can plastic really be recycled?

Plastic can and has been recycled for decades now, but there are some experts who think that even this isn’t such a good idea. First of all, not all plastic can be recycled . Only certain types, used for certain purposes can be reused and repurposed. When we do recycle plastic, melting it down in order to reprocess it can send harmful burning plastic smoke into the atmosphere. And frankly, we have enough problems with our atmosphere as it is. 

Recycling can also be logistically and financially difficult. Plastic recycling requires specialized equipment that is not readily available. Recycling plants require energy to run and people to man them. And unlike plastic production, which is cheap and easily handled after so much practice, recycling offers far less return on investment for businesses. Thus, it’s not nearly as popular as it should be. Not to mention, only about 9 percent of plastic actually gets recycled .

Should plastic be banned?

Based on the convenience and necessity of plastic, there is little chance of any government or organization outright banning it. People wouldn’t allow it. We’ve all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. The alternatives aren't well-known either, and that presents a problem in delivering a coherent message to the general public. However, there are several solutions that might make regulating plastic a bit easier. 

How can we ban plastic?

The first thing we could do is tax it. This has already been done with disposable grocery bags in some places, where many people are just not willing to pay an extra 10 cents for a plastic bag. That adds up over time. Of course, many consumers have rolled over in favor of convenience, plastic’s most staunch advocate. Recycling can only go so far as we discussed, but it is an option — though there's not much to do about non-recyclable plastics. 

Banning single-use plastics is the only true way to do it. Bags were a good start, but bottles, cups, straws, and cutlery will be a harder sell. This is especially true for small businesses and chains who rely on low-cost options to serve and sell their wares. In the end, allowances will always have to be considered. Unfortunately, until everyone is on board, plastics will remain an innocuous, yet destructive piece of our daily lives. 

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• Should Plastic be Banned

Essay on Plastic Ban: Why We Must Ban Plastic

Plastic bags, made of stable organic polymers, pose a significant threat to the environment. These long chains of carbon atoms are chemically stable, making them resistant to environmental breakdown. Despite their industrial importance and affordability, the environmental impact of plastic bags is becoming evident.

The non-degradable waste from years of plastic use is now causing pollution in the air, water, soil, and every part of nature. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to land and water pollution globally. The excessive use of plastics introduces them into our food chain, posing health risks such as organ failure and respiratory distress.

Animals, both on land and in water, unknowingly consume plastic, leading to blockages and respiratory failure. Marine animals often die from entanglement in plastic waste. Additionally, plastic bags accumulate in waterways, clogging drains and sewers, resulting in disease vectors and reduced oxygen supply to aquatic animals.

Efforts to tax plastic use have been ineffective. However, before banning plastics, suitable replacements must be available to avoid inconvenience. The urgency to save our planet, our only home, calls for a global ban on plastic bags.

The pervasive use of plastic, while convenient and durable, has unleashed a hidden monster - plastic pollution. This threat affects every corner of the planet, endangering life on land and in water. Banning single-use plastics is crucial for a healthier planet and a brighter future.

Plastic pollution extends to our oceans, with an estimated 8 million tons entering annually. Gyres of plastic debris harm marine life, suffocating sea turtles and posing threats to entire ecosystems. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch serves as a stark reminder of the uncontrolled plastic plague.

The impact on land is equally alarming, with plastic bags causing floods, contaminating the food chain with microplastics, and overflowing landfills. The health risks to humans include disruptions to the endocrine system and potential long-term consequences from exposure to microplastics.

To combat plastic pollution, a multi-pronged approach is needed. Banning single-use plastics, promoting responsible production and disposal, and investing in alternatives are crucial steps. This crisis presents an opportunity for collective action, innovation, and a shift towards a circular economy.

The fight against single-use plastic is not just an environmental crusade but a battle for the health and future of our planet. It requires a shift towards responsible use, mindful disposal, and a commitment to a future where convenience does not harm the planet. By embracing the ban on single-use plastics, we pave the way for a healthier planet and a testament to human ingenuity and environmental stewardship.

Towards a Plastic-Free Tomorrow

Imagine a world where beautiful beaches invite you with golden sands, not piles of plastic. Coral reefs thrive with life, free from plastic's suffocating hold. Clean air fills our lungs, untouched by the fumes of burning plastic. This isn't a far-off dream; it's a possible future if we take action.

A plastic ban isn't a fight against convenience; it's a necessary shift for a sustainable future. It's a call to embrace responsibility, innovation, and deep respect for our shared planet. Let's meet this challenge, break free from plastic's grasp, and reclaim a future where life unfolds in vibrant, unspoiled glory.

The plastic crisis isn't a distant threat; it's a fire at our doorstep. A plastic ban might seem drastic, but it's the necessary action we need. By prioritizing our planet's health and our well-being, we can pave the way for a plastic-free future. It's not just about inconvenience; it's about reclaiming our future, one reusable bag, one biodegradable choice at a time.

FAQs on Should Plastic be Banned

1. Are plastic bags a boon for nature or a curse?

Plastic bags are small and lightweight, making them easy to transport.

This may appear to be a blessing to us, but there is another side to the coin.

Because they are light, they are easily carried away by the wind and water.

As a result, they end up in seas and oceans, polluting them. Furthermore, they become tangled in fences and trash our landscapes when carried away by the wind.

The ingredient used to produce plastic bags is polypropylene, which is why they are so long-lasting.

This polypropylene, on the other hand, is made from natural gas and petroleum, and it is non-biodegradable.

There is a common misperception that recycling is a better option than using plastic bags. This eventually compels the producers to produce more, and the process repeats itself with a tiny modification in the number of units produced.

Plastic bags are damaging to human health, even though they are one of the most practical bags for carrying lots of things.

2. How to minimize the use of plastic?

Plastic bag-related hazards are frequently disregarded and underestimated.

This is because individuals do not consider the long-term consequences of the compact, easy-to-carry bags they use on a daily basis.

Plastic bags have been banned in a number of several throughout the world.

In many Indian states, the use of plastic bags has also been limited by the government.

To ensure that the usage of these bags is prohibited, the government must take stringent measures. There needs to be a complete ban on the production of plastic bags.

Retailers must also be penalized if they offer plastic bags.

Those who are caught carrying plastic bags should be penalized as well.

3. Why should plastic be banned?

There are a variety of reasons why governments around the world have enacted tough regulations to limit the use of plastic bags. Here are a few reasons

Plastic bags that have been discarded are heavily damaging the land and water.

Plastic bags have become a hazard to the lives of both terrestrial and aquatic species.

Waste plastic bags emit chemicals into the soil, rendering it infertile.

The use of plastic bags has a harmful influence on human health.

The drainage issue is caused by plastic bags

4. What problems are caused by plastics?

Here are some of the issues that plastic bags cause:

Non-Biodegradable- Plastic bags do not decompose. As a result, disposing of plastics is the most difficult task.

Environmental Degradation- They are destroying nature as a result of their negative impact. Today, plastic bags are the leading cause of land pollution. Plastic bags that end up in aquatic bodies are a major source of pollution. As a result, we may conclude that these are wreaking havoc on our ecosystem in every manner possible.

Animals and Marine Creatures are Harmed- Plastic particles are inadvertently consumed by animals and aquatic species. According to research, waste plastic bags are a major cause of untimely animal fatalities.

Illness in Humans- Toxic chemicals are released during the manufacture of plastic bags. These are the leading causes of death. The polluted environment is a key cause of a variety of diseases that are easily spread among humans.

Sewage Back-Up- The biggest cause of drain and sewage blockages, especially during rainstorms, is waste plastic bags. This could result in a flood-like situation, disrupting people's daily lives.

5. Does plastic cause pollution?

Yes, plastic causes pollution. Plastic bags are a key source of plastic pollution, a type of waste that is wreaking havoc on our ecosystem. It poses a threat to human life on the planet. To decrease pollution, plastic bags must be prohibited. Plastic bags pollute the environment, the air, and the water. This is why they have been outlawed in a number several. However, they are still widely used in most parts of the world, and they are proving to be environmentally hazardous.

6. Are Plastic Bags Banned in India?

In October 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a nationwide ban on single-use plastic which is used for carrying food for eating or drinking cups that is discarded immediately after one use was put into effect so as to achieve the goal to make India plastic-free by 2022. As this kind of plastic is not easily recyclable it is a great way to conserve nature.

7. What are the Alternatives to Plastic?

As of now till there are other options one can use paper bags or cotton bags, these are easily available and can also be easily hand-made. The material is so good that it lasts a long time and doesn’t get damaged easily and when dumped is decomposed easily as it is made of biodegradable and renewable sources.

Essay on Plastic Ban

Students are often asked to write an essay on Plastic Ban in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Plastic Ban

Introduction.

Plastic is a material we see everywhere in our lives. From packaging to products, it’s hard to imagine a world without it. However, plastic causes serious environmental harm.

Why Ban Plastic?

Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose. This slow process harms wildlife and pollutes our oceans. Many animals mistake plastic for food and consume it, leading to their death.

Benefits of Plastic Ban

Banning plastic reduces pollution and protects wildlife. It encourages the use of eco-friendly alternatives, promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

While banning plastic may seem challenging, it’s a crucial step towards a healthier planet.

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• Speech on Plastic Ban

250 Words Essay on Plastic Ban

The exponential growth of plastic usage worldwide has resulted in an environmental crisis of unprecedented scale. Non-biodegradable, toxic and ubiquitous, plastics pose a monumental threat to biodiversity and public health. Consequently, numerous nations have initiated a plastic ban to curb this menace.

The Necessity of a Plastic Ban

The omnipresence of plastic in our daily lives, from packaging to transportation, has led to its accumulation in landfills and oceans. This non-degradable material disrupts ecosystems, harms marine life and contributes to global warming. Plastic fragments in the ocean, for instance, choke marine life, while microplastics enter the food chain, posing potential health risks to humans.

Implementing the Ban

The implementation of a plastic ban requires a multi-pronged approach. It involves not only legislation and regulation but also creating public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic and promoting eco-friendly alternatives. Incentivizing businesses to transition to sustainable packaging, imposing penalties for non-compliance, and fostering a culture of recycling and reuse can drive this change.

Challenges and Countermeasures

While a plastic ban is imperative, it is not without challenges. The affordability and convenience of plastic make it difficult to eliminate entirely. However, innovations in biodegradable plastics and investment in recycling technologies can provide viable alternatives.

In conclusion, a plastic ban is a critical step towards a sustainable future. While the road to implementation is fraught with challenges, the collective effort of governments, businesses, and individuals can make a significant difference. The plastic ban is not just about prohibiting a harmful material; it is a call to action for responsible consumption and production.

500 Words Essay on Plastic Ban

The imperative of plastic ban.

Plastic, a material once celebrated for its durability and versatility, has become a ubiquitous environmental menace. The world has finally begun to acknowledge the detriments of plastic pollution, prompting a growing movement towards plastic bans.

The Plastic Problem

The plastic conundrum is complex and multifaceted. Since its inception in the early 20th century, plastic has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. Its resilience to natural degradation processes means that every piece of plastic ever produced still exists in some form today. This leads to a staggering accumulation of plastic waste, much of which ends up in our oceans, causing devastating effects on marine life.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of plastic is profound and far-reaching. Marine animals often mistake plastic for food, leading to fatal consequences. Furthermore, plastic waste acts as a carrier for invasive species, disrupting ecosystems. Microplastics, tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items, permeate the environment, even infiltrating our food chain.

Given the severe environmental repercussions, the need for a plastic ban is pressing. Single-use plastics, in particular, are a significant contributor to plastic pollution. Banning these items can significantly reduce the volume of plastic waste. However, a plastic ban should not be seen as a panacea for the plastic problem but rather a critical step towards a comprehensive solution.

Challenges to Implementation

Implementing a plastic ban is not without challenges. Plastic is deeply entrenched in our economy and daily lives, making it difficult to eliminate entirely. There are concerns about the economic implications of a ban, particularly for industries heavily reliant on plastic. Additionally, alternatives to plastic are often more expensive or less convenient, creating resistance to change.

Overcoming Obstacles

Despite these challenges, the plastic ban is not an insurmountable task. Education and awareness can play a crucial role in shifting societal attitudes towards plastic. Governments and businesses can incentivize the use of sustainable alternatives, making them more accessible and affordable. Research and innovation can also lead to the development of eco-friendly materials that can replace plastic.

In conclusion, a plastic ban is a necessary measure to combat the escalating plastic pollution crisis. It is an urgent call to action that requires collective effort from governments, businesses, and individuals. While the path towards a plastic-free world is fraught with challenges, it is an endeavor that we must undertake for the sake of our planet and future generations. The plastic ban is not just a policy but a commitment to a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

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Should Plastic be Banned Essay

The use of plastic in society has been growing exponentially, and BYJU’S should plastic be banned essay explains the importance of prohibiting this hazardous, chemical-releasing substance. The problem is that most of these materials are not recycled, and instead, they end up in landfills, where they take up space and emit harmful chemicals into the environment. Experts say we could have a plastic-free society by 2030, if more companies invest in recycling programmes.

We can recycle plastic, and everyone should try to use recycled products instead of throwing them into landfills. The best way to reduce plastic wastage is through the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. Plastic can also be toxic when burned and results in plastic pollution . The environmental impact of plastic is vast because plastic takes up space in landfills, where it contaminates the land most of the time. Finding a way to reuse and recycle plastic would reduce these problems while keeping our environment safe. Teach kids the harm that plastic can do to our precious planet by referring to the essay on should plastic be banned.

Problems Caused by Plastic Usage

The ban on plastic essay is one of the essential sections in kids learning . Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance that causes harm to the environment and all living beings. In addition, disposing of plastic has become a challenge in recent years, and hence, it is essential to follow proper plastic waste management procedures. Plastic takes a very long time to decompose because it doesn’t break down chemically like other materials. It means that plastic can take hundreds of years to break down again.

When we use plastic, it becomes a part of our lives and causes severe environmental pollution . Moreover, plastic is released into water bodies, like ponds, rivers and oceans, resulting in massive water pollution. Plastic production is a toxic procedure and creates harm to human beings. It causes severe illness and pollutes the environment .

So, should plastic be banned? The essay clarifies that plastic has to be banned.

Public Support for Plastic Ban

There has been a lot of progress in the plastic ban, especially by the Government, by prohibiting identified single-use plastic items. People develop methods to reduce the use of single-use plastics through social media sites; they also provide information on other ways to reduce plastic use. In addition, plastic awareness is a must for everyone, and it is suggested to read BYJU’S ban on plastic essay.

Many countries have implemented plastic bans. This includes banning the use of plastic bags and straws. To prevent waste created by the pollution caused by plastic, many brands have created new fabrics that can be used instead of plastic.

The plastic ban on disposable water bottles is an excellent idea because it will reduce waste and help the environment. However, the Government needs to ensure that all pre-existing containers are recycled instead of thrown away. This will ensure that there is no unnecessary waste and pollution.

We hope this essay on should plastic be banned for kids was useful for young learners. For more essays and stories for kids , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Should Plastic be Banned Essay

Should plastic be banned.

Yes. Plastic is a harmful substance to the planet, and hence, it must be banned.

What do kids learn from BYJU’S should plastic be banned essay?

BYJU’S should plastic be banned essay teaches the little ones about the problems caused by plastic and creates awareness of banning plastic.

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500+ Words Essay on Should Plastic be Banned

The use of plastic has become a widespread and ubiquitous part of modern society, with plastic products being used in a wide range of industries and applications. However, the environmental impact of plastic has become increasingly clear in recent years, with plastic pollution affecting oceans, wildlife, and even human health. As a result, many people have called for a ban on plastic in order to protect the environment and reduce the harm caused by plastic waste.

One of the main arguments in favor of banning plastic is the environmental impact of plastic pollution. Plastic is not biodegradable, meaning that it does not break down naturally in the environment. Instead, it can take hundreds of years for plastic to degrade, and even then, it does not disappear completely, but rather breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces known as microplastics. These microplastics can be ingested by wildlife and can cause a range of health problems, including starvation, suffocation, and even death. In addition, plastic pollution in the oceans is causing significant harm to marine wildlife, with an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles and 1 million seabirds killed each year as a result of plastic pollution.

Another argument in favor of banning plastic is the economic cost of plastic waste. Plastic waste is not only an environmental issue, but it also has significant economic costs. The cost of cleaning up plastic pollution and dealing with the health impacts caused by plastic waste can be high, and it is often the public and taxpayers who end up footing the bill. In addition, plastic waste can also damage tourism and fishing industries, which can have a negative impact on local economies.

Despite the arguments in favor of banning plastic, there are also some arguments against it. One of the main arguments against banning plastic is the cost and inconvenience it would cause for businesses and consumers. Plastic is a cheap and versatile material that is used in a wide range of products and industries. Banning plastic would likely lead to an increase in the cost of these products and could also cause significant disruption to supply chains and logistics.

Another argument against banning plastic is that it would be difficult to implement and enforce. Plastic is a global problem, and it would be difficult to implement a ban on plastic that would be effective in all countries. In addition, even if a ban on plastic was implemented, it would be difficult to enforce and could lead to a black market for plastic products.

In conclusion, plastic has become a ubiquitous part of modern society and its environmental impact has become increasingly clear in recent years. While banning plastic would help reduce plastic pollution and the harm caused by plastic waste, it would also cause significant cost and inconvenience for businesses and consumers. However, instead of an outright ban, a more effective solution could be implementing stricter regulations, taxes and incentives for plastic recycling and reduction of single-use plastic products which have a high environmental impact. Additionally, promoting the use of alternatives to plastic, such as paper, biodegradable plastics, and compostable materials, could help reduce the demand for plastic and decrease the environmental impact of plastic waste.

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Expert Commentary

The good and the bad of plastic bag bans: Research review

Government bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags have spread in recent years amid fears about plastic’s negative impact on the environment. But alternatives are not necessarily better.

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by David Trilling, The Journalist's Resource December 13, 2016

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/environment/plastic-bag-bans-grocery-shopping-environment/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

Plastic bags kill wildlife, clog waterways and pack landfills. Discarded bags can  spread malaria if   they collect rainwater, offering mosquitos a casual breeding ground. In recent years, local and national governments have begun phasing out or banning lightweight plastic shopping bags. But alternatives are not necessarily greener: People buy more plastic trash bags when shopping bags are unavailable. And a British government study found single-use paper bags contribute more toward global warming than plastic bags.

Not so straightforward:

For some activists, the effort to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags is both urgent and too late. According to a  2008 estimate in Waste Management,  people around the world discard between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags a year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  lists single-use plastic bags as a major contributor, along with food wrappers and fishing nets, to the  Great Pacific Garbage Patch  — vast, shifting waves of trash that often arrive via storm drains and rivers and can entangle marine life or be ingested . According to a 2014 estimate published in PLOS ONE , more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic (not all from bags) weighing a combined 250,000 tons are floating in the world’s oceans.

Yet substitutes also offer cause for concern. A comprehensive  2011 study by the British environmental agency argued that plastic bags are greener than many alternatives. A paper bag must be used four or more times “to reduce its global warming potential to below” that of conventional plastic bags. The reason is that paper production — from the felling of trees to the emissions  and effluent from paper factories — is dirty. The study found “no significant reuse of paper bags,” not even as trash-can liners.

Legislation:

With a referendum in November 2016, California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures, which keeps an active list  of American laws. Thicker, reusable bags are still available for purchase for 10 cents. Before California, cities often organized the bans: In 2016, for example,  Cambridge  became the first Massachusetts city to ban plastic bags altogether and require merchants to offer paper bags for a fee of no less than 10 cents. By contrast, Missouri’s legislature in 2015 forbid  cities and counties in the state from enacting plastic bag bans.

The European Union passed legislation in 2015 aiming to cut plastic bag use in half by 2019 and half again by 2025. E.U.-member France went further, banning single-use plastic bags on July 1, 2016, and phasing in other , more restrictive bans in the upcoming years – including the prohibition of plastic cooking utensils by 2020.

Do these bans work? They do appear to reduce the number of shopping bags used, but the effect on demand for (potentially pernicious) alternatives is unknown.

• Five years after Ireland instituted a 15 Euro cent levy on plastic bags in 2002 – Irish stores had been giving out 1.2 billion each year for free – a paper published in  Environmental and Resource Economics   suggested  a 90 percent reduction in use.
• One year after its ban San Jose  reported “a reduction in bag litter of approximately 89 percent in the storm drain system, 60 percent in the creeks and rivers, and 59 percent in city streets and neighborhoods.”
• Researchers at Cardiff University, in the United Kingdom, found that a fee for plastic bags introduced in October 2015 has led to a sharp decline in the number of shoppers who take single-use bags at checkout, from 25 percent to 7 percent after one year.
• China, which banned many types of plastic bags in 2008, claims some successes. But some reports suggest the rule has been difficult to enforce.

Academics have measured consumer behavior and public opinion on plastic bags in many countries, including Turkey , Uganda and Canada . A 2016 study in Social Marketing Quarterly examines how shoppers respond to different incentives for bringing their own shopping bags – such as avoiding a fee or paying a tax – and remarks “that a penalty framed as a tax may be more effective in motivating shoppers to bring reusable bags.”

“Biodegradable” plastic bags:

In 2010, raw plastics production in the U.S. used the energy and natural gas equivalent of 172 million barrels of oil,   government figures  suggest. But some newer plastics are made from vegetable matter, allowing manufacturers to claim their plastics are biodegradable. In theory, that means these plastics can be used to feed bacteria that convert them into water, carbon dioxide and biological matter. But the process rarely works in a landfill – these products need to be composted with the right microbes. When they’re not, they may not break down at all or can release methane, a greenhouse gas. So-called starch-polyester bags, made from a blend of vegetable matter and synthetic plastics, had the highest global warming impact in the  2011 study conducted by the British environmental agency “due to the high impacts of raw material production, transport and the generation of methane from landfill[s].”

The European Union hosts an online forum to discuss biodegradable plastic bags.

Researchers have looked into the policy challenges of biodegradable plastics, how they break down in the ocean and wider environmental impacts .

Our health:

Besides assuming a deviant place in marine ecosystems, there are concerns about the synthetic compounds in plastic that may be oozing into our food. One of the main building blocks of plastics, bisphenol A (also known as BPA), has been shown to stimulate breast cancer cells and damage the quality of rat sperm. Phthalates are another subject of disquiet.

Microbeads:

Another plastic causing concern is the microbeads found in some exfoliating facial scrubs and toothpastes, which are rinsed down drains into rivers, lakes and oceans . A 2015 study in the Marine Pollution Bulletin estimated that between 4,594 and 94,500 microplastic particles pass into the sewer during each use (between 16 and 86 metric tons annually in Britain alone). A forthcoming study in Chemosphere finds that microbeads do not accumulate in the gut when fed to goldfish, though both studies recognize their chemical effect in the food chain is unknown. In 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act to ban microbeads in hygienic products, though they continue to be used in other countries.

Arguments for plastic:

Proponents of plastic bags argue that they are hygienic and cheap and preserve foods that would otherwise spoil. A number of lobbies have worked to confound legislation that would reduce the availability of plastic bags. In California, for example, The Washington Pos t found that the American Progressive Bag Alliance – a Washington-based group run by a plastics lobby – spent over $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 to oppose California’s attempts then to legislate a ban.

Plasticfilmrecycling.org (a project of the American Chemistry Council ) is supported with funds from large multinationals like Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil. Some organizations – such as the Plastics Industry Association , which directs visitors to the American Progressive Bag Alliance and bagtheban.com — support recycling as a solution, rather than less plastic.

Plastic shopping bags are widely reused as trash-can liners, the British environmental agency study points out. When they are banned, the study adds, consumers purchase more plastic trash bags: “The reuse of conventional HDPE [plastic] and other lightweight carrier bags for shopping and/or as bin-liners is pivotal to their environmental performance and reuse as bin liners produces greater benefits than recycling bags.”

Anti-plastic lobbying and activism:

The California plastic bag ban received support from the California Grocers Association . Grocery stores stood to benefit because the law mandated they charge 10 cents for reusable bags.

• The American Forest and Paper Association argues for the use of paper bags and against the imposition of fees on paper bags.
• A website – plasticbaglaws.org – founded by a California lawyer who consults for activist organizations, has a number of useful links .
• The Worldwatch Institute , another nonprofit campaigner, estimates at least 267 animal species have suffered “from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris, and plastics and other synthetic materials.”

Other resources:

• This 2011 E.U. study shows, among other things, that residents of eastern E.U. members and Portugal use the most plastic bags in the union.
• Journalist’s Resource profiled a 2016 paper on gender stereotypes and environmentally friendly behavior that found some people think recycling is feminine.
• A 2015 paper in the Journal of Marketing found that people who bring reusable grocery bags on their shopping trips may purchase more junk food.
• NOAA has fact sheets on microplastics in the ocean and plastic marine debris .

Keywords: Trash, pollution, waste, plastics, regulations, petrochemicals, chemical lobby

About The Author

David Trilling

We don’t need to ban plastic. We just need to start using it properly

The very properties that makes plastic so dangerous - its durability and long lifespan - also make it a great asset Image:  REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

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Humanity’s relationship with plastic is rather schizophrenic.

It is present in almost every aspect of modern life, from water bottles to aircraft. Without it, our lives would not be the same. However, it is now considered an environmental evil because of the havoc that plastic waste wreaks. We see it on our streets, in our rivers and lakes, on our beaches and even in our deepest oceans. There will be more plastic than fish in the ocean in 30 years, scientists estimate. Let us not be foolish enough to think the plastic will stay there. After it is eaten by fish and marine life, causing great damage, it enters the bodies of anyone who eats them.

Many environmental activists are calling for a ban on plastics. However, the very properties that make plastic so dangerous - its durability and long lifespan - also make it a great asset. A material that will not die or be destroyed for five hundred years is valuable. We can reuse it almost endlessly. The problem is not plastic itself. The problem is using it irresponsibly.

A material that can be constantly recycled is a great help to ecology and the economy, especially when the human population is growing rapidly and our lifestyle demands are increasing exponentially. The solution is not to ban plastic, but to ensure that it is used responsibly and recycled properly.

However, plastic recycling is a complicated issue . There are so many different grades of plastic, each requiring their own recycling process. Some of these plastic types are not even recyclable in a commercially viable manner. The process of collecting and sorting these different categories has many challenges, including technological capacity, and social awareness around disposal.

A blueprint to transform "filth into wealth" is the need of the hour. A comprehensive legal and policy framework to streamline and commercialize the process of plastic recycling must be created. It is the plastic industry’s responsibility to raise the necessary social awareness about responsible use and recycling. If we can show people that plastic is precious, you will not find a piece of plastic waste anywhere.

As host of World Environment Day 2018 , India must lead by example, by eliminating single-use plastic. Strict enforcement of law is key. If the world’s major powers, including India, China, the US and the EU, introduce this ban at a policy level, it will percolate easily to the rest of the world.

Humanity must realize that, given our current footprint, reusing and recycling everything is most important. Right now, we treat ecological concerns as an obligation to fulfil. They are not an obligation - our lives depend on them. Our very body is an extract from this planet. Preserving and nurturing Earth is no different from creating a good life for ourselves. Our life is an integrated, connected life. There can be no good life without a good planet.

Our ideas about development and the economy have removed us from this reality. It is time we realize that the fanciful notions we have about life and the world no longer work. We have to do something more mature. This maturity must come from business, industry and government.

In our lives, if we do not do what we cannot do, it is not a problem. But if we do not do what we can do, we are a disaster. It is my wish that we, as a generation, do not become a disaster.

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Should Plastic be Banned Essay

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One type of pollution that is seriously harming our ecosystem is plastic pollution, to which plastic bags are a significant contributor. It poses a risk to Earthly life. The reduction of usage of plastic bags is necessary to minimize pollution. Plastic bags pollute the land, the air, and the water. This is the rationale behind the bans on them in a number of nations. Nevertheless, these are still frequently utilized and proven to be harmful to the environment in most regions of the world.

In this article, we will exoplore essays arguing in favor of banning plastic bags. Let’s see.

Table of Content

Long and Short English Essay on the Need for a Plastic Bag Ban

Short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 200 words, essay on environmental pollution and plastic – 300 words, essay on why plastic bags are harmful for health – 400 words, essay on problems caused by plastic bags – 500 words, long essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 600 words.

You can use these various length essays on the topic of why plastic bags should be prohibited for your examinations and school projects. You can choose any essay on why plastic bags ought to be outlawed based on your needs and preferences.

Plastic bags are frequently used and easily found in stores. Because they are useful for transporting groceries, these are particularly well-liked at grocery stores. These come in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced in addition to being lightweight. But we don’t consider the expense of utilizing these bags. These bags are depleting our lovely surroundings. Indeed! The ecology is at risk from the plastic bags we use on a daily basis.

The issue is far more serious than it first seems. According to researchers, one of the main reasons for water pollution is plastic bags. Some other reasons would be infertility of crop lands.

Many states in our nation have banned the use of plastic bags. Nevertheless, this rule hasn’t been properly implemented. These are still offered for sale. The stores give these bags to customers, who are happy to take their belongings in these convenient tote bags. It’s time for each of us to realize how serious the problem is and to give up using plastic bags.

The level of pollution in our surroundings is increasing daily. It has grown significantly since the start of the industrial revolution. In the previous few decades, pollution has multiplied due to an increase in factories and automobiles on our globe. While factory and car smoke has negatively impacted air quality and made breathing difficult, trash from homes and businesses has primarily contributed to the pollution of water and land, which has led to a number of serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Plastic is one of the primary drivers of contamination in the modern world, in addition to other things. Plastic is normally used in the creation of a wide range of things, like plastic sacks, kitchenware, furniture, entryways, sheeting, bundling material, ledges, and that’s just the beginning. Plastic is gotten from non-renewable energy sources like oil and petrol. Individuals like plastic items since they are more reasonable and lightweight than wood or metal items.

How much plastic waste that is challenging to discard is becoming because of the expanded utilization of plastic. The material plastic isn’t biodegradable. It deteriorates and ages over the long haul, yet it never mixes in with the dirt. Plastic adds to natural harm and is available in the climate for many years. Poisons that damage soil and water are delivered into landfills. Plastic couldn’t actually be scorched to dispose of it since consuming plastic deliveries destructive exhaust that can prompt significant medical conditions. Accordingly, discarding plastic has become progressively troublesome.

Along these lines, a few countries have prohibited plastic packs, which contribute essentially to plastic contamination. In any case, just prohibiting plastic packs won’t cut it. To decrease ecological contamination, extra plastic articles should likewise be prohibited.

It is imperative that we comprehend the extent to which plastic is devasting our ecosystem and making life more difficult for humans, animals, plants, and marine life. Reduced plastic product consumption is necessary to maintain a cleaner environment.

The ubiquitous plastic bags we use on a daily basis pose a threat to life as we know it. These have gradually crept into our lives and are now a significant contributor to both human and animal illness.

Plastic Bags: Dangerous to Human Well-Being

The health of individuals is enormously hurt by plastic packs. Plastic packs just adversely influence human wellbeing from the second they are created until they are discarded as garbage.

The wellbeing of individuals who work in the plastic pack industry is harmed by the risky synthetics made during the most common way of giving plastic sacks their ideal shape. Food bundling often utilizes plastic packs. As per scientists, a few destructive substances from the plastic get into the food items that are bundled in it. Accordingly, rather than keeping the food securely pressed, plastic sacks pollute it. Various occurrences of plastic sullying food have been recorded. Devouring such food can seriously endanger one for food contamination, stomach related issues, and different sicknesses.

Furthermore, a lot of non-biodegradable trash is delivered by plastic packs. For almost 500 years, this junk is as yet present on the planet. The nature of drinking water is brought down when this waste material gets into water bodies. Throughout recent many years, there has been a huge decrease in the nature of drinking water. The essential driver of this is the developing amount of plastic packs that are being discarded in drinking water sources like streams. Various ailments spread by water have supplanted this.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Plastic back trash significantly affects creatures, particularly marine life. After utilizing the plastic packs, we imprudently dispose of them. Most of the rubbish places where the exposed animals assemble looking for food are loaded up with these plastic sacks. Animals habitually consume entire plastic sacks or minimal plastic particles with their dinner. Over the long run, the limited quantity of plastic that collects in their bodies prompts medical problems. Be that as it may, assuming that they gulp down the entire plastic sack immediately, they risk being quickly choked to death.

The marine life is in a comparable situation. Plastic waste has extraordinarily expanded the contamination of oceanic bodies. The water that marine life drinks is turning out to be more regrettable subsequently. Fish, turtles, and other amphibian creatures likewise consume plastic.

Thus, plastic bags are really bad for your health. We should cease using them and replace them with more environmentally friendly options.

Since plastic sacks are lightweight and helpful to deal with, they are exceptionally famous. Moreover, we don’t have to purchase these when we go out to shop, dissimilar to fabric or paper packs. Since they are modest, the storekeepers give them out without limitation when clients purchase anything. Retailers and clients the same blessing plastic sacks for the reasons recorded previously. In any case, we likewise need to see the more extensive picture and see past the transient accommodation.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

(a) Non Biodegradable

Packs made of plastic don’t biodegrade. The biggest problem is disposing of them. They don’t crumble; all things being equal, they separate into little particles and infiltrate soil and water bodies. For many years, they wait in the dirt and water, delivering unsafe synthetic substances that hurt our exquisite planet.

(b) Deterioration of environment

Due to their adverse consequences, they are obliterating the normal world. Nowadays, one of the primary reasons of land defilement is plastic packs. The pre-owned plastic sacks are unloaded in landfills, where it will take them approximately 500 years to separate. Since these sacks are lightweight, the breeze can convey them to significant stretches. Land tainting results from their littering of the encompassing region and landfills. One of the primary drivers of water contamination is plastic sacks that end up in water bodies. Accordingly, these are hurting our biological system in each way.

(c) Dangerous to Marine Life and Animals

Plastic garbage is eaten by creatures and marine life notwithstanding food. Since plastic can’t be separated, it becomes trapped in their digestive organs. Different creatures and marine life experience grave medical problems because of a lot of plastic structure up in their digestive organs. At times, creatures accidentally gulp down the entire plastic pack. They are gagged to death when something becomes held up in their digestion tracts or throat. Especially famous for consuming the full plastic sack immediately, ocean turtles botch it for jellyfish. Studies uncover that disposed of plastic packs have been a critical supporter of untimely creature passings.

(d) The Reason Behind Human Illness

When plastic bags are made, hazardous chemicals are released into the air, endangering the health of those who work on them. Food contained in plastic bags may potentially be harmful to your health. Furthermore, waste plastic bags pollute the environment, as was already explained. One of the main factors contributing to the spread of many diseases among humans is pollution.

(e) Blockage in Sewage

Rubbish plastic sacks every now and again become trapped in channels and sewers in the wake of imploding in water or being passed up the breeze. The two individuals and creatures might be in danger from stopped up channels and sewers, especially while it’s coming down. Water develops in the channels because of plastic sack deterrents. This could create what is going on like a flood and impede individuals’ day to day routines.

We must recognize the issues that the convenient plastic bags are causing and put an end to their use. It’s time for our government to enact stringent legislation outlawing plastic bags.

One of the fundamental supporters of ecological debasement is plastic sacks. Since plastic is a non-biodegradable material, plastic packs dirty the biological system significantly for many years after they are left in the climate. It is currently exceptionally important to ban plastic packs before they thoroughly annihilate our planet.

Countries Where Plastic Bags are Prohibited

To restrict the utilization of plastic packs, various countries have either forced charges on them or through and through prohibited them. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Britain, Germany, Hawaii, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island, and Maine are a couple of these. The utilization of plastic packs has essentially diminished because of these activities. But since these endeavors haven’t been as effective in executing them, the issue actually hasn’t been completely fixed.

In a few of these countries, there is an underground market for plastic packs, and these dangerous sacks are as yet being sold unlawfully.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

The governments of several nations have implemented strict policies to restrict the use of plastic bags for a variety of reasons. Among these are a few of these:

• Plastic bag waste is severely damaging the land and water.
• Animals that live on land and in water face a threat from plastic bags.
• Plastic bag waste releases chemicals into the earth, rendering it unusable for cultivation.
• The health of people is being severely impacted by plastic bags.
• Plastic bags cause issues with drainage.

Maintain a Tab

It is challenging to suddenly stop utilizing plastic packs when we have become so used to them. We should continually be helping ourselves to remember the adverse outcomes that plastic sacks have on the climate and screen our utilization of them assuming we are to prevail in this goal. We will ultimately become acclimated to living without these packs.

L ook for Substitutes

Plastic bags have a lot of environmentally acceptable substitutes. Every time we go to the market, we can bring a reusable jute or cloth bag to carry our groceries and other belongings instead of the plastic ones.

Reuse: Before tossing away the plastic bags we now own at home, we should utilize them as often as possible.

Raise Awareness

We may likewise bring issues to light through informal, despite the fact that the public authority ought to utilize commercials and hoardings to bring issues to light of the adverse consequences of plastic packs and the requirement for a boycott. We can illuminate the young locally, maids, and vehicle wash drivers about the mischief that plastic sacks do to the climate and urge them to quit any pretense of utilizing them.

Plastic sack related issues are as often as possible ignored and underestimated. This is a consequence of people not considering the drawn out impacts of the little, lightweight sacks they use consistently. They keep on utilizing these sacks regardless of realizing that they have adverse consequences on account of how advantageous they are.

Related Articles:

• Plastic Pollution
• Single Use Plastics – Concerns and Solutions

FAQs on Should Plastic be Banned Essay

What is a 5 sentence on plastic.

Plastic is an artificial material that doesn’t break down naturally. We haphazardly incorporate it into practically all daily products. Plastic waste builds up and contaminates the environment. Its buildup affects the land, rivers, and seas.

Why we should stop using plastic?

The remaining three quarters, which are not recycled, end up in our environment where they contaminate our oceans and disrupt our ecosystem. Marine life is particularly vulnerable since most plastic debris from less developed nations ends up in the ocean.

Why is plastic harmful?

Plastic persists in the ecosystem for a very long time, endangering species and dispersing pollutants. The use of plastic also fuels global warming. The chemicals used to make almost all plastics are derived from the burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil, and gas.

What is the slogan for no plastic?

“No plastic, no pollution.” “Protect Earth: avoid plastic.” “Say no to plastic, make Earth magic.” “Use less plastic, love Earth more.” This is the slogan for no plastic.

How plastic is affecting our life?

They offer packaging that minimizes food waste, such as the use of packaging with a modified environment to keep meat and vegetables fresher longer (Mullan, 2002). Plastics lower transportation costs and, thus, atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions because of their light weight.

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• 17 April 2024

We must protect the global plastics treaty from corporate interference

• Martin Wagner 0

Martin Wagner is a professor of environmental toxicology in the Department of Biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

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The global plastics treaty being negotiated this month in Ottawa epitomizes how people’s relationship with these valuable yet problematic materials is changing for the better. If it can be agreed on this year — as I hope it will — this treaty could end plastic pollution and lead to healthier societies. It could reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and short-lived products. And it could lower people’s and nature’s exposures to hazardous chemicals and nano- and microplastics released by the 460 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year (see go.nature.com/4auwzap ).

These negotiations also mark a shift in public attitudes towards plastics — from enabling modernity to being a hallmark of the Anthropocene . These materials contribute to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. And research — including my own — shows that plastics damage the health of both ecosystems and humans, by disrupting hormones, for example (see go.nature.com/4cqt8pj ).

The widespread support for the treaty is also striking. It comes from not only researchers, but also the public, civil society and businesses — “all the stars are aligned”, as one of my colleagues says. Swayed by scientists’ warnings and emboldened by public opinion, policymakers are willing to embark on this journey to end plastic pollution.

In reality, however, not all stars are in alignment. Just as in global climate negotiations, countries and companies with vested interests are putting the treaty’s success at risk. The many nations striving for an ambitious treaty are being held hostage by those few that are locked politically and economically in a harmful plastics past. Reining in these vested interests is the key to unlocking a brighter plastics future.

UN plastics treaty: don’t let lobbyists drown out researchers

Resistance is coming from countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, that depend on keeping fossil fuels flowing . They have obstructed constructive dialogue and are using delay tactics , such as lengthy discussions about procedural matters. One such debate revolves around whether the plastics treaty should be agreed on by consensus or through a majority vote. If consensus will be required, a single country could veto the treaty and prevent all the others from jointly addressing the problem.

Corporations and representatives of fossil-fuel, chemical and plastics industries have similar vested interests. For instance, four times as many industry lobbyists as independent scientists had registered to attend last November’s round of negotiations in Nairobi. But such lobbyists operate more clandestinely than do researchers, through strategies decided in private boardrooms.

On past form, it seems likely that some lobbyists will try to cast doubt on plastics research to slow down the negotiations. Artificially increasing the scientific uncertainty around tobacco’s adverse impacts on the climate has proved highly effective in delaying policy actions against such products, for example. Doubt, disguised as scientific critique, is cast by discrediting scientists and their research. Meanwhile, companies promote their own studies, which demonstrate a lack of harmful effects.

In my opinion, the problem runs deeper still. I’m concerned that corporations are trying to control the scientific narrative by ‘domesticating’ the community. They create and support meetings, research projects and learned societies to ostensibly ‘support science’, while redefining it.

For instance, in many industries, companies have long promoted the idea that polluting nature is acceptable until risk assessments show otherwise. Although this is an ethical rather than a scientific question, such reasoning allows potentially harmful products to remain on the market. In the treaty discussions, lobbyists will demand risk assessments to demonstrate plastics’ impacts on human health before taking action, work that would take decades to do.

To curb plastic pollution, industry and academia must unite

Bringing round fossil-fuel-dependent countries is a challenge for international diplomacy. But it is also crucial that nations take steps to limit corporate influences on the plastics treaty, particularly around the science. Here’s how.

Strong competing-interest rules should be applied to all scientific matters. Participants in the treaty’s negotiation and implementation should be required to report any links to the fossil-fuel, chemical or plastics industries. Making such declarations public would enable scrutiny and accountability. The United Nations could support a mechanism to verify declarations, for instance.

Policymakers should also insulate scientific bodies from corporate interference. Business views should pertain to developing solutions, not debating the science. And the two discussion streams should be kept separate. There is a precedent: the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control excludes from its work all experts with links to the tobacco industry. Such a rule does not prevent dialogues between science and stakeholders.

I acknowledge that the private sector is not monolithic and comprises actors who want to contribute to a better plastics future, by supporting the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, for instance. But the private sector must build trust by ceasing activities that intend to manufacture doubt. Resources would be better spent on innovating sustainable plastic materials and products.

Thus, state and corporate interests must be reined in for the plastics treaty to be successful, benefiting nature, human health and businesses alike.

Nature 628 , 475 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01090-9

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Competing Interests

M.W. is an unremunerated member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Food Packaging Forum (FPF), a charitable foundation under Swiss law. The FPF does not advocate or lobby, but disseminates scientific information on food packaging to stakeholders and the public.

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Should Plastic Bags Be Banned? Essay

Should plastic bags be banned for free in all 50 states and instead charge a fee for each plastic bag used at the checkout? This will be the focused research question for this essay. In contemporary settings, the need to conserve the environment holds essence to a considerable degree. Plastic bags contribute to environmental pollution significantly. Thus, the establishment of policies that seek to curb the use of such bags is essential (Ritch et al. 170). In the United States, various states consider establishing and implementing strategies to curb the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores. Several cities impose charges of up to $10 on customers using plastic bags. However, the strategy has not been effective in discouraging the utilization of environmentally unfriendly materials (Clapp and Swanston 318). Currently, several states including Arizona, Missouri, Idaho, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Utah, have tabled laws that would see the ban of plastic bags use, primarily at retail store checkouts. However, there is a need for all 50 states to prohibit the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores.

The use of plastic bags has detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic bags cause harmful consequences to forests, lakes, rivers, and oceans. The harm undermines the survival of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Usually, plastic waste finds its way to water bodies where it soaks the toxins, which are transferred to aquatic life. Besides endangering the life of aquatic creatures, the toxins have the potential of finding their way to the top of the food chain, thereby posing adverse health implications on the human population. The problem of plastic bags threatens the sustainability of the 40 billion dollar ocean economy (Clapp and Swanston 320). Further, it is costly to finance the cleanup and recycling of plastic bags conducted in the entire United States. Therefore, the need to foster the sustainability of the natural environment calls for the free ban on plastic bags used for shopping in all the 50 states.

The research seeks to advocate legislation that would see the permanent ban on the use of plastic bags when shopping in retail and grocery outlets. The current proposal also aims at underlining the essence of engaging in practices that foster environmental sustainability in the United States. The inquiry seeks to uncover the insignificance of charging shoppers who use plastic bags at the checkout. The value of the environment overrides the collected revenues. Environmental degradation has long-term implications for generations to come. Further, the ban would relieve citizens from the financial burdens incurred from the activities involved in the cleanup and recycling of plastic waste.

The following research questions would be crucial in establishing a solution to the current problem induced by the use of plastic bags when shopping.

• What are the environmentally adverse effects of using plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores in the United States?
• Does the application of charges at the checkpoints to shoppers using plastic bags contribute to the reduction of pollution caused by such materials?
• How would the ban on the usage of plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores contribute to the sustainability of the environment in the United States?

The inquiry has considerable significance on the move towards the creation of a green environment. Thus, it would be integral in promoting a collaborative approach towards fostering the sustainability of the environment. Answering the research questions would underline the relevance of the inquiry.

The study would heighten awareness regarding the harmful outcomes of using plastic bags when shopping. Uncovering the threats posed by the plastic bags would emphasize the need to protect people, plants, and animals from harm caused by the waste that is usually difficult to dispose of efficiently. The inquiry is also significant since it would inspire the importance of sustainable development in the United States’ economy.

The study is also important since it would facilitate an evaluation of the various measures implemented to discourage the use of paper bags in the United States. Notably, the charges subjected to shoppers using the bags have realized insignificant successes in combating pollution. Moreover, the inquiry is relevant since it will facilitate the implementation of a policy that will be integral in tackling contamination in contemporary settings.

The inquiry holds the belief that plastic bags account for a significant degree of pollution of the water bodies. Therefore, failure to ban the use of plastic bags is believed to undermine the sustainability of the United States’ environment. However, the study assumes that paper bags have greater adverse effects on the environment compared to plastic bags.

The primary idea of this study is to uncover the relevance of banning the use of plastic bags in the United States. However, the study is prejudiced since it treats the plastic bags as if they are the principal cause of environmental degradation in the country. The environment faces degradation threats resulting from major pollutants such as industrial wastes and toxic gas emissions.

The undertaking of the inquiry would consider the integration of mixed research design. As such, the sample population would comprise of the key stakeholders who influence the use of plastic bags for shopping purposes. The research would use non-probability sampling methods to acquire the sample population. Stakeholders including policymakers, environmental conservation experts, and shoppers would constitute the sample population.

The preliminary research reveals that several states have established policies that ban the use of plastic bags as others are on the verge of making significant progress. However, there is a need to intensify the effectiveness of such policies in the entire country as a way to combat the problem of environmental degradation. In this regard, advocacy for the banning of plastic bags should take the center-stage in all the 50 states.

The prohibition would be a significant step towards the establishment of similar policies that seek to foster environmental conservation. The cost of cleaning up and recycling plastic bags poses a sizable burden on the taxpayer. Paper bags have an adverse implication on the environment in comparison to plastic bags. Nevertheless, winning small battles is what inspires stakeholders to pursue victory in wars. Conversations are underway to establish environmental policies that will prohibit the use of plastic bags across the United States. Environmentalists from the different states are coming together to push for comprehensive policies. The objective is to ensure that no state is left behind in the endeavor to conserve the environment.

The prohibition of the use of plastic bags in shopping at retail and grocery stores can go a long way towards conserving the environment instead of imposing charges on customers who disregard the essence of considering bio-degradable bags. The problem of the use of plastic bags is serious since it has the potential of harming the health of individuals who consume aquatic foods contaminated with toxins from the plastic bags wastes. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the viability of banning plastic bags.

Works Cited

Clapp, Jennifer, and Linda Swanston. “Doing Away with Plastic Shopping Bags: International Patterns of Norm Emergence and Policy Implementation.” Environmental Politics , vol. 18, no. 3, 2009, pp. 315-332.

Ritch, Elaine, et al. “Plastic Bag Politics: Modifying Consumer Behavior for Sustainable Development.” International Journal of Consumer Studies , vol. 33, no. 2, 2009, pp. 168-174.

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Climate Forward

The fight over the future of plastics.

As countries negotiate a landmark agreement to reduce plastic pollution, the industry is fighting a battle over regulations and over its image.

By Hiroko Tabuchi

Earlier this week in Ottawa, the Vinyl Institute, a major plastic industry group, hosted a reception for delegates who are negotiating what would be the first global treaty to tackle the world’s mounting plastic waste problem.

There were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. And signs with the message that plastics save lives.

Scientists have increasingly raised the alarm over the risks that the chemicals used in plastic pose to human health and the environment. Ahead of the latest round of talks, European researchers published a database of more than 16,000 chemicals plastics can contain, many of which have been linked to cancer risks and damage to the human immune system.

The plastics industry urgently needed to combat the image of the industry as “the enemy, this faceless industry that is there to kill people,” Domenic DeCaria, the Vinyl Institute’s technical director, told an industry gathering ahead of the latest round of talks, according to a recording of the remarks, which DeCaria confirmed in a conversation with the Times Thursday.

In particular, the industry is pushing back against the possible inclusion in the treaty of caps on global plastic production, an approach favored by a broad coalition of nations at the talks, which resumed on Tuesday in Ottawa.

Spearheading that effort are African nations that have blazed a trail in phasing out single-use plastics, which make up the bulk of plastic pollution. Almost three dozen countries on the African continent have banned various forms of single-use plastics and packaging.

Targeting plastics production

Plastic production has also come under heightened scrutiny because of the emissions of planet-warming gases it causes. Recycling has failed to stem the flow of plastic waste that is piling up in landfills, entering the world’s rivers and oceans, and breaking down into tiny particles that have made their way into drinking water supplies and are detectable in human blood. The fiery derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last year of a train carrying vinyl chloride also underscored the hazards of some of the chemicals used to make plastics.

The plastics industry has countered by highlighting the critical role plastics play in modern life. Nearly 200 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists plan to join this week’s treaty negotiations, a 40 percent jump from the previous round of negotiations, according to an analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law.

Modern medicine relies heavily on single-use plastics, for example. Bags made of PVC can preserve blood for up to 42 days, a sign at the Vinyl Institute cocktail party pointed out. Industry groups have also highlighted the role plastics play in preventing food waste and delivering clean tap water.

“When you think about the bigger problems of access to clean water, access to good health,” Mr. DeCaria said from Ottawa on Tuesday, “we’re part of the solution.”

The global debate on plastics

The plastics industry has also found itself navigating a tricky global landscape. Some of the world’s biggest oil- and gas-producing countries are aligned with the industry’s position. Nations are aiming to hammer out a draft of the treaty by the end of the year, at the final round of negotiations in South Korea. On top of reining in plastic production, scientists are urging negotiators to aim for a treaty that mandates testing of the chemicals in plastics.

According to the U.N. Environment Program, the world produces more than 430 million metric tons of plastic a year. Two-thirds are short-lived products that soon become waste.

“We will continue to need plastic for specific uses, such as renewable energy technologies,” said Inger Andersen, U.N.E.P.’s executive director. “But there is growing agreement that short-lived and single use can go.”

Biden’s emissions rule-making spree

The Biden administration placed the final cornerstone of its plan to tackle climate change today, my colleagues Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman reported . The new regulation would force the country’s coal-fired power plants to reduce their greenhouse pollution by 90 percent by 2039 or shut down.

It’s part of a slew of new rules on planet-warming pollution the White House issued recently as it works to meet the nation’s goal of cutting carbon emissions by about half from 2005 levels by the end of the decade. Here is what has happened since the beginning of the year:

Fossil fuels : Earlier this month, the Biden administration raised the royalty rates that fossil fuel companies pay the government in order to drill and mine on public lands. It also blocked oil, gas and mining operations across millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness .

Car and trucks : Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new tailpipe pollution limits designed to ensure that at least 56 percent of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States are all-electric or hybrids by 2032. Coral pointed out that the rule on passenger cars would eliminate more greenhouse gas emissions than any other climate rule in the nation’s history. Another rule increasingly limits the amount of pollution allowed from bigger trucks .

Climate risk disclosures: The Securities and Exchange Commission also approved new rules detailing if and how public companies should disclose climate risks and how much greenhouse gas emissions they produce . In March, a federal court temporarily halted those rules .

Methane : In January, the Biden administration announced that oil and gas companies would be required for the first time to pay a fee for emitting methane . It also paused the permitting process for new liquefied natural gas export facilities in order to analyze their impact on climate change, the economy and national security .

Electric grids: Also this week, the Energy Department finalized a new rule meant to speed up federal permits for major transmission lines , a major hurdle to the government’s plans of expanding America’s electric grids to include new renewable energy plants.

The White House has also issued regulations to protect wildlife , rid municipal water systems of “ forever chemicals ,” and limit pollution from industrial and chemical plants that makes people sick.

The rules are likely to face challenges. Many states have already sued the government to stop the implementation of some of the rules . — Manuela Andreoni

More climate news

The Environmental Protection Agency is relying on industry-backed tests to relax regulations on a pesticide that has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, ProPublica reports

Writing in The Guardian , the finance ministers of Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Spain argue for a 2 percent wealth tax on billionaires to tackle inequality and the climate crisis.

The Financial Times explains that BYD’s plans go well beyond electric vehicles, encompassing solar modules, lithium batteries and software .

A new global study revealed Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Danone are the top companies responsible for plastic pollution, The Washington Post reports .

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If you’re enjoying what you’re reading, please consider recommending it to others. They can sign up here . Browse all of our subscriber-only newsletters here . And follow The New York Times on Instagram , Threads , Facebook and TikTok at @nytimes.

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Hiroko Tabuchi covers the intersection of business and climate for The Times. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years in Tokyo and New York. More about Hiroko Tabuchi

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How To Write An Essay On Plastic Ban In 10 Lines, Short And Long Form

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Plastic Ban For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on plastic ban for children, short essay on plastic ban in english for kids, long essay on plastic ban for children, what will your child learn from the plastic ban essay.

Essay writing is integral to all students’ school curriculum, including debates and speeches. An essay on plastic ban for classes 1, 2 and 3 teaches kids to gain awareness of the dangerous effects of environmental pollution caused by plastic and how it contributes to global climate change. Plastic pollution is disastrous for both humans and marine animals. Simply banning the use of plastic is not enough. Humans must alter their ways, follow the law, and treat mother nature kindly. Here are some crucial points on plastic pollution and sustainable practices that kids can incorporate in their essays, speeches, and, most importantly, in their ways of living.

Essay writing is a creative expression that needs proper research and practice for quality output. Here are some tips to remember while writing an essay on the ban of plastic for lower primary classes.

• The essay should have an introduction, body and conclusion.
• Gather relevant information on the topic and divide the essay into different paragraphs.
• Use simple language and avoid spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.
• The essay must have a clear line of argument.

The art of essay writing helps develop writing skills, vocabulary, and a definitive writing style. Here is an essay for classes 1 and 2 that can create positive curiosity among children and help to perfect future assignments.

• Widespread use of plastic causes severe illness for humans apart from environmental pollution.
• Plastic is not a natural element and is produced with the use of chemicals.
• Plastic decomposition is a slow process, so the waste remains on Earth for many years.
• Plastic waste released into water bodies causes immense water pollution.
• Plastic bags disposed of carelessly cause clogged drains and sewage lines.
• We should switch to reusable, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternatives to plastic.
• Waste plastic releases chemicals that enter the soil, making it infertile.
• The disposal of plastic indiscriminately will ruin our planet entirely.
• Banning plastic bags or levying taxes by the government can keep our environment safe.
• The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay on the Plastic ban is essential to every kid’s learning. Here is a short essay for class 1, 2 and 3 that can educate children on better use and waste management of plastic products.

Plastic bags have gained widespread popularity as they are important industrially and are very cheap. However, they are non-biodegradable and take a long time to break into small particles. Only a few plastic bags are recyclable, and they create environmental pollution. Even the energy used for plastic production negatively affects our environment. The burning of plastic bags emits gas and smoke that are immensely toxic. When plastics found in the garbage are consumed by animals and sea creatures, it results in the death and extinction of these species. These bags can even jam the sewage lines if not disposed of away properly. Preservation of food in plastic bags can not only intoxicate it but causes fatal diseases like cancer. Even doctors advise us not to regularly drink hot beverages in plastic glasses and polythene, which may affect our health. Plastic bags strewn all over the land causes a decline in soil fertility and productivity. Plastic waste also affects marine life and causes an imbalance in biodiversity. We can find plastic waste everywhere, and it causes severe damage to nature. Recycling plastic bags is a very complicated, lengthy, and costly process, but it is possible to reduce the harm to mother nature by reusing plastic objects instead of throwing them after single use or switch to sustainable materials. Understanding the same, the Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay for class 3 helps to evaluate a student’s research, analytical, and writing skills. Here is a long essay on plastic ban in English for kids that would encourage them to appreciate nature and ways to protect it.

Plastic bags are most convenient to use when shopping, either for groceries or daily provisions. Being lightweight, easy to carry, and readily available in the market, they have become an essential part of everyday life. However, this convenience of using them comes at a very high cost that may affect the environment and our human health negatively. Littering by indiscriminate use of plastics can cause significant damage to our environment. It threatens our natural resources such as water, trees, and crops. As plastics get defragmented into small pieces, they get easily swept away into our soil and end up in oceans, then consumed by wildlife and marine life. Thereby, the number of animals and marine life reduces or becomes extinct. Approximately 46,000-1,000,000 fragments of plastics can be seen floating within every square mile of the oceans. The use of 1 trillion non-biodegradable plastic bags worldwide and the burning of plastic bags are damaging our earth. When these plastic bags are burned, they release toxic gases into the atmosphere, creating air pollution. Several cities around the world have banned the usage of plastic bags, while some have implemented legal procedures against the use of plastic bags. Countries like China, Bangladesh, and India have banned using and selling polythene bags with a thickness of fewer than 50 microns. Plastics are generally made from non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources like polypropylene (material made from petroleum and natural gas). With the extraction and production, greenhouse gases are created that contribute to global warming and climate change.

According to Green Tumble reports, almost 35% of turtles die by ingesting plastic. ABC News reports found 25 bags in the stomach of a crocodile in Australia. According to a National Geographic report, nearly 90% of seabirds consume discarded plastic. We all must collectively contribute to making the plastic ban a success. Only when an educated lot of society takes it up as their responsibility to support the campaign against plastic ban we can save the environment.

Problems Caused By Plastic and Plastic Bags

• Death Of Animals – Many animals ingest plastic bags every year. They die due to choking or other issues.
• Toxic Chemicals – Plastic bags contain chemicals including BPA that cause harmful diseases in humans like ulcers, obesity, and asthma.
• Clogging Of Drains – The drainage system is often blocked by the accumulation of plastics as
• Groundwater Pollution – Chemicals mixed into the groundwater reservoirs enter our bodies through the plants and drinking water.

What You Can Use Instead of Plastic

There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags like recycled paper bags, jute bags, reusable cotton tote bags, and glass bottles.

How Can We Minimise The Use of Plastic?

Plastic bags contribute to plastic pollution in our environment. Here are some ways to minimise the use of plastics.

• Many Indian states need to restrict the utilisation of plastics as directed by the government of India
• By following stricter measures and creating general awareness, we can reduce the use of plastics.
• More fines must be imposed on retailers for selling plastic bags.
• The public should be fined for carrying plastic bags.

Plastic Ban In India

The Indian government has banned plastics to save our beautiful mother earth. At first, Sikkim went completely plastic-free, and then Himachal Pradesh became the first state to restrict plastic and polythene bag in 2009. In 2016, Karnataka banned all single-use plastic items, while Delhi banned all disposable plastic items in 2017. Later, Bihar, Tamilnadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand implemented the ban in 2019. The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

Your child will understand why they should not use plastic and why the plastic ban is important for our environment. They will also get aware of various ways to stop plastic usage.

Our throw-away culture causes plastic pollution in oceans and impacts biodiversity. We should find alternative and sustainable solutions to make our planet plastic-free for a better tomorrow.

Essay On Plastic Pollution for Kids How to Write An Essay On Land Pollution for Children Essay on Environmental Pollution for Lower Primary Classes

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Essay on Plastic Ban for Students and Children in 1000+ Words

In this article, read an Essay on Plastic Ban for Students and Children in 1000+ Words. This includes history of plastic bags and discussion on ‘Plastic Bags – A Boon or A Curse?’.

Lets Start this Essay on Plastic Ban…

Table of Contents

Essay on Plastic Ban (1000+ Words)

Plastic bags are a significant source of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution significantly contributes to the deterioration of our environment.

There should be a plastic ban to decrease in plastic pollution . Plastic bags cause land, water and air pollution. Decomposing of plastic waste is also a significant challenge which leads to an increase in plastic pollution.

Using plastic has been banned in various countries because of the adverse effects. However, plastic products have been used in various parts of the world, thereby causing hazards to the environment .

Plastic bags are easily available in the market and are widely used. Plastic bags are usually available in grocery stores and are used to carry grocery items like rice, fruits, veggies, wheat flour and other grocery items. The plastic bags are available in various sizes; they are much more economical and easy to use.

However, bags harm the environment. The plastic items and bags that we use in our day-to-day life are hazardous for our environment. This is a major problem than it appears. Scientists say that plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution .

Plastic waste is also responsible for making agricultural land infertile and also many other problems. Many countries throughout the world, including India , have banned the use of plastic bags to ensure a greener environment .

History of Plastic Bags

The plastic products that we use today were originally acquainted with the world by Alexander Parkes at London’s Great International Exhibition in the year 1862.

Parkes’ used a natural subsidiary to f cellulose as the material, which was formed when warmed and was kept in shape after cooling it.

Coining the word “Plastic”

The word plastic was coined in the year 1909. The word was first used by Leo H. Baekeland to describe a type of material that constituted Bakelite,” a substance he made from coal tar, which was used to make many things like phone, camera and ashtrays.

Plastics were used as a critical segment in the production of all these things. Plastics turned out to be well known throughout the world only after World War 1 when oil becomes effortlessly accessible.

Plastic Bags – A Boon or A Curse?

‘Need to Encourage People for Plastic Ban’

Plastic bags are very lightweight and can be easily carried anywhere.

This may sound like a boon for people, but however, there is also another side if the use of plastic bags. Since it is lightweight in nature, it is easily carried away by wind and water.

This is the reason that it blows away anywhere like seas and oceans and pollutes it. They also destroy the beauty of landscapes. A material called polypropylene is used to make plastic bags. It makes them much durable to use.

Natural gas and petroleum are used to make polypropylene. Natural gas and petroleum are non-biodegradable in nature.

The production of various plastic products, including plastic bags releases greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which is the major cause of global warming throughout the world.

People believe that recycling is an alternative to the misuse of plastic waste; however, it is a misconception. An average of only 5% of all the plastic waste can be recycled, and the remaining 95% find its way in soil, water and other landscapes.

According to the latest report, about 35 – 40 % of all the plastic waste is being recycled, and the location of the remaining 60 % is not even known. This makes the plastic producers produce even more number of plastics, and a minor change occurs in the number of recycled products.

Plastic bags considered to be one of the most convenient ways to carry loads of products. However, plastic ban is the solution as it is harmful to human health .

The plastic bag contains a few chemical and synthetic substances in them which can potentially disturb the typical working of the hormones of the human body.

Most of the plastic products that are discharged in the seas and oceans, like plastic bags contain contaminations like PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyl) and PAHs (Polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons) which can affect the hormone structure.

When sea animals eat these substances, it travels through the food web and finally reaches to a human while consuming fish.

How can we minimize use of plastic?

Plastic ban has soared high in several countries.  The government of India has also made plastic ban in various states of the country. The use of plastic bags should be stopped throughout the country, and strict measures should be taken to implement this.

• There must be a ban on the production of plastic bags also.
• Retailers must be fined to sell plastic bags.
• People who use and carry plastic bags should be fined.
• Some amount must charge plastic bags of good quality which are easily available in the market; this will significantly reduce the use of plastic bags.
• A good option should be available in the market, which can substitute plastic bags.
• It should also be cost-efficient.

Plastic ban is a movement in the right direction. Most of the biggest economic countries of the world like China, USA and many European countries have banned the use of plastic bags.

There are many countries which have not implemented plastic bags, and they should do it soon. Some of the concerns arise on which people depend as a source of livelihood.

However, on the other side, the plastic ban is a sole need as these bags are destroying our environment. Innovators will eventually come up with an alternative for plastic ban everywhere. This will, in turn, create products and companies, and finally, people will get employment.

When it comes to production costs, plastic bags and cheaper and much easier to produce as compared to eco-friendly bags, however, the demerit is that the plastic bags undergo wear and tear easily. In fact, people discard them in the garbage bins as soon as they carry their products home.

Eco-friendly bags like that of cotton bags are much durable, and also it can be washed and reused again. Eco-friendly bags are cheaper for the long run because it doesn’t have government intervention to clear them from the street.

They are easily degradable and can be cleared from the face of the world. It is not wise to spend money on something that costs almost three times the amount to get rid of it.

10 Lines on Plastic Ban

• The world produces more than 6 billion metric tons of plastic waste annually.
• Plastic is dumped in lands and oceans, causing massive pollution and environmental problems.
• Plastic is a human-made material and hence cannot be degraded in nature.
• Scientists are working on a natural degradation of plastic through certain types of bacteria and enzymes.
• On average, a person consumes more than 100 kilograms of plastic each year.
• There are more than 12.7 million times of plastic in our oceans as of now.
• Irresponsible disposal of plastics will lead to disturbance in the natural ecosystems as well as our food chain.
• Banning plastic altogether is not possible because we are heavily dependent on plastic every day.
• From our Smartphone’s to computers to medical devices, plastic exist in every sphere of our lives.
• Plastic bags should be banned because the alternative for it exists like jute bag, gunny bag or paper bags.

There are many problems which are caused due to plastic waste, and it has often been overlooked and underestimated.

This is because people don’t think about the long term effect that plastic is causing to the environment. People look at the benefits that they are getting from it.

People do not consider plastic ban and keep using plastic bags owing to the convenience they offer and ignore the adverse effects that are caused to the environment.

I hope you liked this essay on plastic ban. Must share this essay with your friends.

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Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Plastic bags are a major contributor to plastic pollution – a kind of pollution that is deteriorating our environment. It is a threat to life on Earth. Plastic bags must be banned in order to reduce pollution. Plastic bags cause land, air as well as water pollution. This is the reason why these have been banned in various countries. However, these are still being widely used in most parts of the world and are proving to be hazardous for the environment. Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned.

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Long and Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English

Here are essays on why plastic bags should be banned of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams and school assignments. You can select any why plastic bags should be banned essay as per your need and interest:

Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 1 (200 words)

Plastic bags are readily available in the market and are used widely. These are especially popular at the grocery stores since they come handy in carrying the grocery items. Available in various sizes these are quite economical and also easy to carry. However, the cost we are paying for using these bags is overlooked. These bags are costing us our beautiful environment. Yes! The plastic bags that we use in our everyday life are hazardous for the environment.

The problem is much serious than it appears. Researchers claim that plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution. These are also responsible for making our agricultural lands infertile and a cause of a number of other serious problems. Many countries have banned the use of plastic bags in order to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. India is also among one of these countries.

Our country has banned the use of plastic bags in many states. However, the implementation of this rule hasn’t been proper. These are still available in the market. The retailers provide goods in these bags and the shoppers gladly take their stuff in these easy to carry bags. It is time each one of us must understand the severity of the issue and stop the use of plastic bags.

Essay on Environmental Pollution and Plastic – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

The degree of pollution in our environment is rising by the day. It has increased rapidly with the advent of industrial revolution. The growing number of factories and vehicles on our planet has increased the pollution level many folds in the last few decades. While the smoke from the vehicles and factories has polluted the air adversely making it difficult to breathe, the industrial and residential waste has contributed majorly to the water and land pollution giving way to several serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Among other things, plastic plays a major role in pollution in today’s time. Plastic which is derived from fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum is being widely used for manufacturing numerous things including plastic bags, kitchenware, furniture, doors, sheeting, packing material, counter tops and what not. People prefer items made of plastic as these are light weight compared to wood or metal items and are also quite economical.

The increasing use of plastic is increasing the amount of plastic waste which is hard to dispose of. Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance. It breaks into pieces, deteriorates over the time but does not become one with the soil. Plastic remains in the environment for hundreds of years and adds to environmental pollution. It goes into the landfills and leaks pollutants that damage soil and water. Plastic cannot even be disposed of by burning as on burning it produces poisonous gases that can cause serious diseases. Disposing plastic has thus become a big challenge today.

Plastic bags that form a major part of the plastic pollution are thus being banned in many countries. However, merely banning plastic bags shall not help. Ban must be imposed on other plastic items as well to bring down the environmental pollution.

It is high time we must understand the intensity at which plastic is destroying our environment and making life difficult for plants, animals, marine creatures as well as human beings. The use of plastic products must be lowered to ensure a cleaner environment.

Essay on Why Plastic Bags are Harmful for Health – Essay 3 (400 words)

Plastic bags that we commonly use in our everyday lives are a threat for life on Earth. These have slowly swept into our lives and are becoming a major cause of illness in animals as well as human beings.

Plastic Bags: Harmful for Human Health

Plastic bags are extremely harmful for human health. From the time these are manufactured till the time these are disposed of as waste – plastic bags do nothing but harm the human health adversely.

The toxic chemicals produced while giving plastic bags their desirable form have a negative impact on the health of those involved in their making. Plastic bags are widely used for food packaging. Researchers claim that some toxic elements from the plastic enter the food items packed in them. Plastic bags thus contaminate the food rather than keeping it safely packed. Many cases of plastic causing harm to the food have been reported. Eating such food can cause food poisoning, intestinal problems and other health hazards. Plastic bags can even lead to suspected human carcinogen.

Apart from this, plastic bags produce immense amount of non-biodegradable waste. This waste remains on earth for almost 500 years. This waste material enters water bodies and degrades the quality of drinking water. The quality of drinking water has gone down drastically in the last few decades. It is majorly because of the increasing amount of plastic bags being dumped in the rivers that are a source of drinking water. This has given way to various water-borne diseases.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Animals and marine creatures are worst effected by waste plastic bags. We throw the plastic bags thoughtlessly after use. These plastic bags form a major part of the garbage areas where the innocent animals go looking for food. Animals often eat small plastic content and even the entire plastic bags along with their food. Small plastic content accumulates in their body and causes health problems over the time. On the other hand, gulping the entire plastic bag in one go can suffocate them to death instantly.

It is the same with the marine creatures. The water bodies are polluted immensely because of plastic waste. It is deteriorating the quality of water that marine creatures drink. Fishes, turtles and other marine creatures also eat plastic content and sometimes gulp the entire plastic bag mistaking it for food and eventually fall ill.

Plastic bags are thus extremely harmful for health. It is in our favour to stop their use and switch to eco-friendly alternatives.

Essay on Problems Caused by Plastic Bags – Essay 4 (500 words)

Plastic bags are quite popular because these are light weight and thus easy to carry. Besides, unlike cloth or paper bags, we do not even require purchasing these as we go shopping. These are economical and thus given freely by the shopkeepers on the purchase of goods. It is because of all these reasons that plastic bags are preferred by both shopkeepers and shoppers. However, we need to look beyond momentary convenience and see the bigger picture.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

• Non Biodegradable

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Thus, disposing them of is the biggest challenge. They break down into small particles and enter the soil and water bodies however they do not decompose. They remain in the soil and water for hundreds of years and release toxic chemicals thereby damaging our beautiful planet.

• Deterioration of Environment

They are destroying the nature owing to their harmful effect. Plastic bags have become a major cause of land pollution today. The waste plastic bags are thrown into the landfills where they take almost around 500 years to decompose. These bags are light in weight and are easily carried by the wind to places far and wide. The litter caused by them on the land and the landfills causes land pollution. The plastic bags that enter the water bodies are a major cause of the water pollution. These are thus deteriorating our environment in every possible way.

• Harmful for Animals and Marine Creatures

Animals and marine creatures consume plastic particles along with their food. Plastic cannot be digested and thus gets trapped in their intestines. Large amount of plastic is accumulated in the intestines of various animals and sea creatures and results in serious health problems in them. Sometimes, animals gulp the entire plastic bag by mistake. This gets stuck in their throat or intestines and chokes them to death. Sea turtles are especially known to have the entire plastic bag in one go mistaking it for jelly fish. Research shows that waste plastic bags have been a major cause of untimely animal deaths.

• Cause of Illness in Humans

The production of plastic bags releases toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness among those involved in their production. Food packed in plastic bags can also cause health hazards. Besides, as mentioned above waste plastic bags cause environmental pollution. Polluted environment is a major cause of various diseases caught by the human beings.

• Clogged Sewage

Waste plastic bags often run down with water or are blown by the wind and get trapped in the drains and sewers. Clogged sewers and drains can be a threat to the human beings as well as animals especially during rains. The water gets accumulated as the drains are blocked because of plastic bags. This can result in flood like situation and disrupt the normal life of people.

We need to understand the problems being caused by the easy-to-carry plastic bags and stop their use. It is time our government should take some strict measures to ban plastic bags.

Long Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 5 (600 words)

Plastic bags are a major cause of environmental pollution. Plastic as a substance is non-biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become extremely essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin our planet completely.

Countries that have Banned Plastic Bags

Many countries around the globe have either put a ban on plastic bag or levi tax on it in order to restrict its usage. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, England, Germany, Hawaii, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island and Maine are among some of these. These measures have brought down the usage of plastic bags to a large extent. However, the problem hasn’t been solved completely because the implementation of these measures hasn’t been as successful.

Black market for plastic bags exists in some of these countries and these toxic bags are still being circulated illegally.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

There are numerous reasons why the government of various countries have come up with strict measures to limit the use of plastic bags. Some of these include:

• Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely.
• Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water.
• Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile.
• Plastic bags are having negative impact on the human health.
• Plastic bags lead to drainage problem.

Public Must Support Plastic Bag Ban

While the Indian government has imposed ban on the usage of plastic bags in many states, people are still seen carrying these bags. Shopkeepers stop providing plastic bags to the shoppers for a few days every now and then but switch back to them as the government doesn’t take any strong measures to stop their production and distribution. It is time we must contribute our bit to make this ban a success.

We, the educated lot of the society must take it as our responsibility to stop the use of plastic bags and ensure that those around us stop using these too. Here is how we can support the government in this direction:

We are so accustomed to using plastic bags that it is difficult to stop their usage completely all of a sudden. In order to be successful in this mission, we must keep reminding ourselves about the harmful effects of the plastic bags on our nature and keep a tab on their use. Gradually, we will become habitual to doing without these bags.

• Seek Alternatives

There are many eco friendly alternatives to plastic bags. Instead of taking plastic bags to carry our grocery items and other stuff, we can carry a reusable jute or cloth bag each time we head to the market.

We should reuse the plastic bags we already have at home as many times as we can before throwing them away.

• Spread Awareness

While the government should spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags and the need to ban them by way of advertisements and hoardings, we can also spread awareness through word of mouth. We can educate our house help, car cleaner and kids in the society about the environmental problems caused due to plastic bags and urge them to stop its use.

The problems caused due to plastic bags have often been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. They keep using these bags owing to the convenience they offer completely ignoring the fact that these bags have adverse effect on the environment and are a threat to life on earth.

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Curious Historian

California Banned Plastic Bags 10 Years Ago, and It Backfired

Posted: April 26, 2024 | Last updated: April 26, 2024

Worsening the issue

A decade ago, California enacted a ban on single-use plastic bags statewide.   

However, a recent evaluation of the ban indicates that it has had unintended consequences, worsening the issue of plastic pollution. 

Approved a bill

In September 2014, California legislators approved a bill prohibiting the use of single-use plastic bags to combat plastic waste. The idea was straightforward: by eliminating plastic bags, they aimed to reduce plastic waste.   

More intricate

Yet, the outcome turned out to be more intricate than anticipated. Although the ban effectively decreased plastic bag usage, it fell short in tackling the root problem of plastic consumption.  

Under the ban

Under the ban, consumers were urged to transition to reusable bags, promoted as a greener option. Despite the emphasis on reusable bags, the reality fell short as many consumers did not follow through with reusing them.   

Minimal use

Instead, they disposed of the reusable bags after minimal use, reflecting the same disposable behavior linked to single-use plastic bags.  

Plastic consumption

Even with the ban in place, plastic consumption in California continued to increase, leading to a higher volume of plastic waste being generated compared to pre-ban levels.   

Fundamental factors

The ban's inability to meet its objectives underscored the limitations of relying exclusively on bans without tackling the fundamental factors contributing to plastic pollution.  

Escalating its actions

Instead of reevaluating its strategy, California is now escalating its actions to address plastic pollution. A recent proposal aims to prohibit all plastic bags, including reusable ones, provided at checkout. 

Concerning pattern

This assertive stance demonstrates a concerning pattern of reinforcing unsuccessful policies rather than exploring alternative solutions.  

Good intentions

The story of California's plastic bag ban acts as a warning about the constraints of policies driven by good intentions. While the goal of environmental protection is praiseworthy, it is crucial to thoroughly assess the possible repercussions of legislative decisions.   

Positive motives

In the instance of the plastic bag ban, positive motives resulted in unforeseen results, underscoring the necessity for more thorough and successful strategies in addressing plastic pollution.  

Carefully assessing

The plastic bag ban in California highlights the significance of policymaking based on evidence and the necessity of carefully assessing unintended outcomes.   

Ineffective policy

While confronting the repercussions of its ineffective policy, the state must draw lessons from previous errors and explore creative approaches to combat the urgent problem of plastic pollution.  

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A ban on single-use plastics takes effect in Hong Kong in a bid to reduce pollution

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

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A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bags in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Leftover food in a plastic lunch box lies on the table of Kuen Fat Kitchen in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A customer collects a takeaway food plastic bag at Kuen Fat Kitchen in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Customers eat food in disposable boxes at Kuen Fat Kitchen, a typical lunch stop, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A restaurant worker picks a plastic food boxes at a Kuen Fat Kitchen, a typical lunch stop, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Customers eat lunch next to takeaway food plastic bags ready for pick up at a restaurant in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carrying takeaway food plastic bag walks past plastic waste in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Plastic waste lays on a beach in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 13, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A volunteer picks up plastic waste from the sea at beach during a beach cleaning operation in Hong Kong, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A volunteer picks up plastic waste from the sea at beach during a beach cleaning operation in Hong Kong, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Pedestrians carry takeaway food plastic bags in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it. That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong has long been a major producer and consumer of great food, and a great amount of plastic and Styrofoam to go with it.

That’s going to change as new legislation aiming to stop the sale and distribution of Styrofoam products and single-use plastic cutlery went into effect on Monday.

Under the new law, single-use cutlery such as forks, spoons, straws and plates cannot be sold or distributed for both dine-in and takeaway customers. However, plastic food containers and cups can still be given out for takeaways.

The regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products in Hong Kong aims to reduce their use at the source to cut down on pollution, Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department said in an emailed response to The Associated Press.

Restaurants were given a six-month grace period. A second phase of the ban, expected next year, will ban all single-use plastics including containers for both dine-in and takeaway.

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bags in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Many restaurants have already begun implementing the new measure.

Kuen Fat Kitchen is a typical lunch stop for many people in Hong Kong. Even before the new law was introduced, it had already started to reduce the use of Styrofoam boxes.

Owner Kitty Chan said the changes will mean higher costs.

“For a single-use cutlery set, you might think it’s just a small change, but switching the plastic spoon to a paper spoon doubles the cost for us. So, it’s not so friendly to the business of the food and beverage industry,” Chan added.

Hong Kong authorities are trying to impose new rules that will cut the use of single-use plastic in a wide variety of businesses from Monday, coinciding with Earth Day.

Customers at Kuen Fat Kitchen have mixed feelings. Some don’t want to face extra hassle when going out to eat if they are asked to bring their own containers and utensils.

“When I’m at work, I only have an hour for lunch, and I need to eat efficiently. I don’t think it’s convenient for me to bring my own cutlery and do the washing up afterwards. It’s not convenient and I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said customer Darren Seng.

Others recognized the environmental impacts of their dining-out habits.

“I think it’s better for the environment,” said resident Thomson Choi.

Single-use plastic cutlery is the second-largest source of plastic waste after single-use plastic bags in Hong Kong, according to Greenpeace. Many businesses are changing to alternative plastics made of natural resources to comply with new rules, instead of improving their packaging, the organization added.

Greenpeace campaigner Leanne Tam hopes that the new law will discourage the throwaway culture and promote reusables, instead of “greener” disposables.

“Any kind of plastic ban policy should aim to influence the public to stay away from plastic. We should move on, and have a new approach,” said Tam. “But we would like to remind the government that it should devote more resources to promote reusable instead of disposable. This is the way to solve the root of the problem.”

According to the latest figures by Hong Kong’s government in 2022, the city disposed 11,128 tons of solid waste per day, among which plastics contributed 2,369 tons.

Hong Kong is reliant on the city’s three landfills to handle its waste, but they are expected to be filled up by around 2026, according to the government.

The city plans to implement municipal solid waste charging from Aug. 1, but the logistics have yet to be worked out. It would compel individual homes, restaurants, and all businesses to pay for trash they throw away.

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Customers eat lunch next to takeaway food plastic bags ready for pick up at a restaurant in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carrying takeaway food plastic bag walks past plastic waste in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Pedestrians carry takeaway food plastic bags in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A pedestrian carries takeaway food plastic bag in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Plastic waste lays on a beach in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A volunteer picks up plastic waste from the sea at beach during a beach cleaning operation in Hong Kong, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)