|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

Problems Created by Disposable Bags

Disposable bags are a very convenient thing to have. Even if you have reusable shopping bags, there are times when you may forget them and need to use disposable bags when you go to the store. But even if disposed of properly or recycled, there are still consequences to the use and overuse of disposable bags. Some consequences are quite obvious while others may not be.

  1. Litter

    • Streets and sidewalks strewn with garbage are a big problem for many cities and towns. Though laws are in place in most areas to combat this, the problem of stray plastic bags continues. This is because plastic bags are so lightweight that they can easily be picked up by the wind and carried to other places, scattering the unsightly litter. Even plastic bags that are placed in a trash bin can still be picked up by the wind if there is not a cover on the bin, as is the case with many public trash receptacles.

    Animal Hazard

    • Stray plastic bags can be carried to water sources like ponds, lakes and even the ocean. In the ocean, an empty plastic bag floating in the water can be mistaken for a jellyfish, which are eaten by endangered species like sea turtles. The turtles eat the bag, which blocks their stomach and causes starvation. The same can happen to water-dwelling birds and other animals. Some will ingest a bag and get it caught in their respiratory system, causing them to suffocate.

    Clogged Sewage Systems

    • Plastic bags can travel long distances and get sucked into anyplace with motion, like sewer pipes. If a sewer pipe gets clogged, it causes waste water to back up. The result is filthy, stagnant water. Stagnant water only breeds more germs and bacteria, including fly and mosquito larvae. There are numerous health risks associated with waste water, fecal matter and flies. This problems is so severe that Indian province Himachal Pradesh has passed a law fining anyone caught with a plastic bag $2,000.

    Oil Dependency

    • Plastic bags are made using oil. Not only is this not a renewable resource, but oil-rich countries can sometimes be volatile. The price of oil is always in flux and often high, making plastic bag manufacturers just one more market competing for oil resources, helping to make the price even higher for oil. There are also environmental consequences to the production and refinement of oil, which casts off several toxic byproducts that can be harmful to humans.

Environmental Health - Related Articles