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2007, para.7).
There are also a number of other environmental consequences to using these bags that should be considered. Plastic bags clog storm drains and they also block the natural flow of oxygen and water through the soil -- all of which contributes to placing increasing pressure on the sustainability of the environment and ecosystems. (Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags. Presentation to the Transportation and Environment Committee, 2008)
2. The advantages of non-reusable bags
It therefore follows from the above discussion that fewer plastic bags in circulation means less toxic chemical and less pollution of the environment. As one commentator writes, "if people were to use reusable bags instead of plastic ones, dependence on these non-renewable resources would be significantly less" (Go green! Benefits of reusable bags). The increase in usage of reusable bags would also mean a significant reduction in the need for plastic -- and it must be remembered that plastic in itself emits toxic chemicals into the environment. An important statistic in this regard is that it takes about 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million plastic bags, and the U.S. produces 380 billion bags a year (Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags. Presentation to the Transportation and Environment Committee, 2008). Therefore, the greater usage of reusable bags would mean less drain on natural fossil fuel resources and possibly more funds that could be spent on environmental issues.
In place of plastic bags many environmentalist suggest making use reusable textile bags. These have a number of significant advantages over plastic and other non-reusable bags. These include the fact that they have a less detrimental impact on the environment due to "not producing toxic gases if incinerated" and" being biodegradable and thus not filling landfill waste disposal sites for many years to come, as most plastic bags do" (Single-Use Plastic Shopping...
The central advantage therefore of making use of reusable bags is that they reduce these threats and dangers to the environment and the future of the world in which we live.
3. Conclusion
In conclusion, the danger posed by plastic and other forms of non-reusable containers and bags is a real and persistent threat to the environment. We cannot afford to ignore this threat in the light of the contemporary deterioration in the world's environment and natural ecosystems. The reality of climate change and global warming underscores the necessity to find alternative and more eco-friendly types of containers.
References
Benefits of Reusable. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.reusablebagsdepot.com/reusable-bag-benefits.html
Go green! Benefits of reusable bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.helium.com/items/976541-go-green-benefits-of-reusable-bags
Knight M. (2007) Plastic bags fly into environmental storm. Retrieved September 4,
2009, from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/14/fsummit.climate.plasticbags/index.html
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:mFYBAtwGg_4J:dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings1008/TEC_plasticBagPolicy_10132008.pdf+Environmental+Benefits+of+Reusable+Bags&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=za&client=firefox-a
The Benefits of Using Reusable Bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/13792.aspx
from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_benefits_of_reusable_textile_shopping_bags
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