WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. How bad was Tucker Carlson for the planet. How do we make polyethylene? Again, because this is what I tell people all the time. Paper does have its own environmental consequences in terms of how much energy it takes to generate, acknowledges Emily Norton, director of the Massachusetts Sierra Club. If a plastic bag is reused in the home as the garbage bag in a bathroom waste bin, does that reduce its footprint by eliminating the need for another small plastic garbage bag? You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. Heres Why That Matters. Theyre less than five millimeters across and they are everywhere, from the oceans to mountaintops to the Arctic to our food and blood. People still need bags to bring home their groceries. The ideal city bag policy would probably involve charging for paper and plastic single-use bags, as New York City has decided to do, while giving out reusable recycled-plastic bags to those who need them, especially to low-income communities and seniors. In 2018 though, 68.1 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling, which is a really impressive number, although its worth noting that paper fibers become weaker each time theyre recycled, so there are still limitations to that. How do we do that? Thats like opening a Papa Johns right next to a Little Caesars. Rough Draft 10 - Written progress - 'Banning plastic bags is great for Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can do great harms to wildlife. Ad Choices, Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? So some of my recent research was looking at to what extent do we actually see border shopping occur? But theres also so much nuance to this issue, and its important to consider these consequences of bag bans as we come up with the best possible solutions. On The Pros and Cons of Banning Plastic Bags by John Stossel Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? In a rational model. The Massachusetts proposal may not become law this year, but it's the latest sign that the plastic bag industry is losing this war. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. Not So Fast" by Ben Adler focuses on the states attempting to end giving out plastic bags for free hoping to reduce plastic waste. So I wont rehash it all today, but if you listen to our episodes on fracking or the Permian Basin or the Haynesville Shale, youll learn a little bit about the villain origin story of plastic bags, and some of the many issues to which they contribute. Others, like in New York City, treat all single-use bags equally. Its vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? And cotton, unlike paper, is not currently recycled in most places. The shift from one single-use bag to another single-use bag may improve one environmental outcome, but be offset by another environmental impact.. Thats right, go get that bag. Donate today to keep our climate news free. We talked about a whole list of issues in our first segment, and those dont vanish. Were trying to get these deep dives a little bit shorter so you can listen to the whole thing during your commute or workout or walking your grandpa or what have you, and also make it a little bit more manageable for our team. The Pros and Cons of Plastic Bag Bans | Dumpsters.com LASZLO: Oh, alright, if itll shut you up. ETHAN: That new ban was signed into law on September 30, and the fact that it was in the news goes to show that even with all the other things going on in the world, people are paying attention to this issue. And thats just not true. So that means fewer animals getting entangled over time which is good, but unfortunately, it also means plastic bags take a lot less time to become microplastics. Whos building these things, Triscuit? As longtime plastic bag adversary Ian Frazier recently reported in The New Yorker, In 2014, plastic grocery bags were the seventh most common item collected during the Ocean Conservancys International Coastal Cleanup, behind smaller debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and bottle caps. The New York City Sanitation Department collects more than 1,700 tons of single-use carry-out bags every week, and has to spend $12.5 million a year to dispose of them. For example, I talked in our plastic straws episode about something called default choice modification. Not So Fast Advocates for plastic bag bans often neglect to ask what will replace plastic bags and what the environmental impact of that replacement will be. And honestly, a little sketchy that ethylene cant handle sunlight. In addition to being my celebrity couple name with a girl named Polly, polyethylene is a string of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Not only are there these human health concerns, but crackers and other petrochemical facilities are not located very fairly. Climate change, they say, isnt the only form of environmental degradation to worry about. Bag bans cut this litter off at the source: In San Jose, California, a plastic bag ban led to an 89 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags winding up in the citys storm drains. Or, another idea, what if plastic could be made directly from carbon dioxide that we suck from the atmosphere? ETHAN: Plastic bag bans also can negatively affect businesses. Well discuss the extent to which plastic bags are a problem, some of the shortcomings of the trendier solutions, and some other less commonly discussed ideas for how to most sustainably and effectively move forward. Politicians "looking for something to do" like banning plastic bags routinely do more harm than good. Scientists are getting closer to understanding the neurology behind the memory problems and cognitive fuzziness that an infection can trigger. If your chief concern is climate change, things get even muddier. And buy the thinnest reusable bag that you know, youll actually reuse. Its not easy being a green consumer, in part because there are these different dimensions of environmental impact. First off, this sort of tax does hit low income communities the hardest, since they spend a larger percentage of their monthly income on food. The good and the bad of plastic bag bans: Research review TAYLOR: Yes, how much people actually reuse the various types of reusable bags has a big impact on their environmental impact. What she finds is actually leave the bag bonuses really dont have an effect. Its like when your boss bans YouTube at work, so everyone jumps to Discord. And the question that I had was, how does banning this plastic carry out bag affect the use of other types of plastic bags, and in particular, garbage bags, because as a consumer myself, I knew that I reused many of my carry out grocery bags as garbage bags. There are many factors to consider when looking at the environmental impact of plastic bags, and also paper bags may not be as environmentally friendly as people think. But for UPROSE, that concern is outweighed by the negative impacts of plastic bags on disadvantaged communities. Fees have a smaller, but still significant, effect. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast Nakuru, Kenya In the open-air Wakulima Market thin plastic shopping bags have disappeared, banished by Kenya's national bag ban. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. The past and future are tightly linked in conventional quantum mechanics. There are so very many variables. Then Christmas is for you. Thats leading to a split in the anti-bag movement. And I think part of what intrigues me is a sort of principle of like free market economics is that people are rational actors. And in particular, stores start offering thicker plastic bags and sticker paper bags for free. As compared to plastic bags, paper bags also require significantly more energy and water to manufacture, and more energy to transport since theyre heavier. READ MORE. Do local governments get to say how these products are regulated? ETHAN: But first, its time for Plastic Bags 101. Two weeks ago, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a measure that would ban plastic bags from being dispensed ETHAN: But first, its time for Plastic Bags 101. But studies conducted in Australia or Europe have limited applicability in the US, particularly when youre considering climate impact, because every country has a different energy mix. [wrong buzz] Aw, dammit, I was so close! Problematic degradation 4. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. Despite the good intentions of these new rules, plastic bag bans are problematic for a few reasons. Thats right, its always the one you most suspect. Cracker? Plastic bag bans havent fixed the entire problem where theyve been implemented. So were still figuring it out right now, but weve got a great episode for you today. Plastic bags could also be more sustainable from the production side. Increasingly, environmentalists are pushing for laws that include fees for all single-use bags, and that require paper bags to be made with recycled content, which could lower their carbon footprint. 12 Compelling Reasons For Banning Plastic Bags [2023 Update] - MindsetEco . And so I was interested in understanding to what degree does a patchwork of policies actually lead customers to switch where theyre shopping. There are also some challenges regarding the design of such a policy, as Dr. Taylor explains. On one hand, we are reducing the amount of litter. [wrong buzzer, rewind] Cracker? ETHAN: Given all this nuance weve explored pertaining to carry out bags, grocery bags, is there any advice you have for individuals who want to do their part? Ironic.plastic is still better than cloth, but it just has to be more than single-use. So what was this paper about and what were your findings? I personally dont care much what kind of bag my groceries are in, Id even take a Hello Kitty bag if it meant my eggs got home without breaking, but Im sure some people really love their plastic bags, and for those that do, this is certainly an intriguing possibility. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. And beyond that, ethylene itself is a dangerous pollutant. Some people still keep streaks, I think! 1- Out of all the bags that are currently available in the market, plastic bags are the most convenient for consumers. But not just anywhere. Some are funded by plastic industry groups, like the ironically named American Progressive Bag Alliance. I hardly know her! In all fairness, every material has a climate impact, and high-density polyethylene is not that bad if you stack its carbon footprint against other materials or even other plastics. Special thanks to our Emperor Penguin patrons Lawrence Harris and Brownies Central. Obviously, a cotton tote does have a much longer life than a plastic or paper bag, but we also have to be honest with ourselves. If you melt a plastic bag down, you can absolutely recycle that polyethylene, and in fact, recycled high-density polyethylene has about a third of the carbon footprint of virgin high-density polyethylene. Course Hero, a tutoring business last valued by investors at $3.6 billion, has cut 15% of staff, or 42 people its first round of layoffs . In fact, eight states have gone so far as to ban single-use plastic bags, and over 200 counties and municipalities have enacted ordinances either imposing a fee on plastic bags or banning them. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Paper bags do have some pros over plastic theyre biodegradable, recyclable, compostable, reusable, all the fun -ables. 12 Reasons for Banning Plastic Bags: Plastic Bags Are Made With Non-Renewable Energy Plastic Bags Use Up Lots Of Energy Plastic Bags End Up In The Ocean Beach Plastic Litter Is On The Rise Plastic Bags Kill Millions Of Animals Every Year Plastic Takes A Long Time To Disintegrate Plastic Is Harming The Ocean's Coral Plastic Bags Contain Toxins So the unintended consequences. And so whats really interesting is just adding a small price to each, each bag, you know, five cents, we see really large behavioral changes just with that small price. Oil and natural gas are also made of carbon and hydrogen, so in addition to using them for energy, we process them into plastic. [wrong buzz, rewind] Cracker? AD READER: This episode of The Sweaty Penguin is brought to you by Christmas. ETHAN: Its true. Here's How. the Massachusetts State Senate passed a measure that would ban plastic bags from being dispensed by many retail businesses and require a charge of 10 cents or more for a recycled paper or reusable bag. ETHAN: I think this paper that you did goes to a larger conversation about plastic because we do often zero in on specific products, will complain about straws or about bags or about bottles. ETHAN: So just to wrap up this point, would you say that its a net positive or negative? The first time you say your dog ate it, its a funny story, but by the fifth time, youre definitely going to fail first grade. I also looked at paper bags as well. So I was really interested to see what the data would say about this were people having to buy more garbage bags now that the plastic bags that they got from grocery stores were no longer available. Capacitors. All rights reserved. Plastic bag bans are spreading. But are they truly effective? Start with your washing machine. Now, obviously, there are still benefits of reducing our consumption of plastic. And you even have some states, at least 17 in the US who have actually banned bag bans, banned regulating bags in general. Lets start with paper: the only kind of bag that is, in the most literal tense, tearible. People look at [paper] and say its degradable, therefore its much better for the environment, but its not in terms of climate change impact, says David Tyler, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon who has examined the research on the environmental impact of bag use. You get merch, bonus content, and more. And so because of that bands have been more popular. Right now, one of the best ways to help Grist continue to thrive is by becoming a monthly member. And sort of the bottom line, what I found with in terms of like the amount of plastic, was about a third of the plastic that was eliminated by the carry out bag ban came back in the form of garbage bags, which do tend to be a bit thicker than the carry out bags. Animals can become entangled in the bags and drown or mistake the bags for food which can clog their intestines and cause them to starve. Does it get recycled? And those seven ethylene projects are concentrated in just three counties in Texas: Harris County, Jefferson County, and Brazoria County. What's in the Bag? The Problem with Single Use Plastics This episode of The Sweaty Penguin explores a wide range of issues including plastic bag manufacturing and looks at the shortcomings of some proposed solutions. Every year, around 500 billion plastic grocery bags are used worldwide. In all seriousness, theres drawbacks here too. Come on, why have we not tried this yet? Theres no easy answer, says Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which backed NYCs bag fee. Not So Fast by Ben Adler The author of the piece Ben Adler agrees that plastic bags have an adverse impact on the environment. ITS COMPOSTABLE! Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? LASZLO: What I want to know is why I wasnt consulted in inviting this creature into our home. Never mind, that was underwhelming. So I often tell people, if theyre choosing a bag, you want to choose a bag that you are going to reuse that could be a thin bag, then plastic bag, or it could be a nylon bag, which is technically still plastic, but is a woven plastic thats fairly lightweight, and thus, perhaps not going to have the same environmental impact as a heavier plastic or a cloth bag. The U.S. is the number two producer of polyethylene in the world behind China, and in the U.S., 80 percent of our primary petrochemical supply is in Texas and Louisiana. ETHAN: Hopefully ethylene makes its What We Do In The Shadows debut in season five. out of class essay 1 - OUT OF CLASS ESSAY Banning plastic bags is great Some social justice activists who work in low-income urban neighborhoods or communities of color also argue that plastic bags are a particular scourge. Proposition 67, also known as SB270, officially passed in November 2016, prohibits plastic bags . Theres no easy answer, says Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which backed NYCs bag fee. People look at [paper] and say its degradable, therefore its much better for the environment, but its not in terms of climate change impact, says David Tyler, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon who has examined the research on the environmental impact of bag use. You can try, but nine times out of ten, its going to rip your original in half. We use. Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? | Grist Now, for various reasons, political reasons, taxes are often not favored by politicians, because people dont like the word tax. There are eight states that ban single-use plastic bags, and these are Oregon, Vermont, California, Hawaii, Delaware, New York, Maine, and Connecticut. And thats not purchasing garbage bags. And so in terms of ranking those, that would be my order, taxes, hybrid bands, and then least preferred standalone bands. If you want to take two minutes to help out The Sweaty Penguin, you can either leave us a five star rating and review or join our Patreon at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Now, a new law hopes to take things a step further by banning these: single-use plastic pre-checkout bags that are not recyclable and can contaminate compost facilities. And just like that, a step towards zero waste is taken, and it feels good. Thats right, I said it. And then if when those you know are no longer possible, can we recycle them? The Australian study concluded that the best option appears to be a reusable bag, but one made from recycled plastic. WIRED 181k followers More information Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Last month, the New York City Council passed a 5-cent-per-bag fee on single-use bags handed out by most retailers. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great For The World, Right Not So Fast Thats the percentage the Massachusetts Sierra Club has advocated for at the state level and when lobbying for municipal bag rules. But are bans on plastic bags or reusable alternatives like tote or canvas bags viable solutions to the worlds plastic problem? After the break, well discuss where bag bans have shown shortcomings, the pros and cons of other types of grocery bags, and some other solution ideas that havent gained the same level of popularity as Dijon-crusted plastic. California and Hawaii already have . Okay, maybe Im going overboard, but honestly, if it were a small ordeal to get a single-use bag, I could see the inconvenience of that motivating people to bring their reusable bags to the store a whole lot more than a five or ten cent tax. Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. In the last couple weeks, I believe around five of our team members got sick, so weve been struggling a little bit! Anything thats not zero gets, you know a pretty big impact. If youre singularly focused on eliminating plastic bags, theres a level of convenience from a policymaker standpoint thats tempting. Every so often, our star fires off a plasma bomb in a random direction. Plastic bags should be banned as it pollutes the water and land. Will we use our cotton tote hundreds or thousands of times? Because of that, the climate impact of a cotton tote is 131 times that of a plastic bag, and its overall environmental impact is thousands of times worse. Bag bans seem to be all the rage, but its not the only option. And so my recommendation is to use as few bags as you can reuse the ones that you do purchase and purchase your bags, make it an active decision. Still, many environmentalists argue that plastic is worse than paper. The first time you say your dog ate it, its a funny story, but by the fifth time, youre definitely going to fail first grade. Paper does have its own environmental consequences in terms of how much energy it takes to generate, acknowledges Emily Norton, director of the Massachusetts Sierra Club. Different studies say different things, but the point is clear: even though paper bags are much better for the environment in the disposal stage, the rest of the supply chain is riddled with problems. The big difference is that paper does biodegrade eventually. Are Plastic Bag Bans a Solution? Washington, D.C.s government estimates that its 5-cent bag tax has led to a 60 percent reduction in the number of these bags being used, although that figure is contested by other sources. Thicker, reusable bags are still available for purchase for 10 cents. Not So Fast." Maybe call the manager over or fly the CEO in on a helicopter or pull the fire alarm so everyone starts screaming and running. Plastic is a toxin that stays in the environment, marine animals ingest it, and it enters their bodies and then ours.. Hopefully its not laced with xylene! Or is it a little too nuanced to make that type of assessment? (Cindy) Works Cited. You start growing weird pimples at 10, youre crying five times a week at 15, and by 20, someone has to carry you into a therapists office, throw you on the couch, and say its broken, fix it. For plastic though, 20 years is much less time than most other single-use plastic products. Whos building these things, Triscuit? Scientists are working on that, and according to a 2021 thesis study from LUT University in Finland, if that process were powered by clean energy, plastic bags made from carbon dioxide could actually be carbon negative. It honestly sounds like a superhero, doesnt it? Many supermarkets have experimented with bag bonuses trying to get people to reuse their either bags by giving them five cents, and they havent found them to be particularly effective. And honestly, a little sketchy that ethylene cant handle sunlight. Thats one idea that Ive seen floated all over the internet. For example, because paper bags take up so much more space, more trucks are needed to ship paper bags to a store than to ship plastic bags. And as you mentioned, tote bags can be actually more harmful. Twitter, Follow us on Then, that ethylene can be sent to a new plant where theyll add a catalyst which initiates a chemical reaction and forms our high-density polyethylene.
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