According with a trade waste company, Plastic bags are a clear example of economic growth unsustainable and incompatible with the environment because they are disposable.
Some horrifying statistics on plastic bags given by a trade waste company
Between 1953 and 1954 were set the polyethylene and polypropylene, the two types of plastic most commonly used today. The first plastic bags were introduced in the U.S. in 1957.
In the late sixties made their appearance the plastic bags to deposit trash. But in the mid-seventies was put into operation a new manufacturing process that lowers the production costs of individual bags and everything started.
It is estimated that in Spain are produced around 100,000 tonnes of plastic bags, most of which are distributed in shops and supermarkets. Of this amount only recycled about 10%.
For every plastic bag factory is four grams of CO2 emitted, making estimates about the manufacturing of bags in Spain is the emission of 441,000 tons of CO2, 0.1% of national total.
How long to decompose a plastic bag?
A plastic bag can take 200 years to decompose, and if we remain dispersed in the middle there many years, contaminating soil, waterways and seas and we know that it is cheaper to manufacture to recycling, so they often end in the most unlikely places.
We also know that the destruction by incineration of plastic bags is another form of pollution because they emit large amounts of harmful gases.
Where will they stop the bags are not recycled?
Studies have shown that oceangoing vessels have been dumping millions of tons of plastics into the sea every year.
Plastic bags are carried to different parts of our land and made the seas, lakes and rivers. And end up in the sea via drains and pipes.
Impact
Plastic bags become part of the food chain and there are thousands of animals that die from ingesting the bags mistaken for food.
Turtles, whales, dolphins, seals and many bird species are endangered as the size of his mouth makes it possible to swallow these materials end up dead of starvation, having obstructed digestive tract, or asphyxiated by unable to breathe to be the plastic stuck in his mouth.
Not only directly kill many animals, but when these plastic bags are left on the seabed prevent algae to grow with that many animals are left without power.
Solutions to the use of plastic bags given by a trade waste company
It seems that some countries are beginning to take steps to alleviate this problem, but the solution is not easy.
China will ban plastic bags that are given freely in shops.
San Francisco vetoed the non-biodegradable plastic bags, London and 80 other British cities are also discussing the possibility of imposing this measure. Environment Minister of Australia has also declared its opposition to plastic bags and their intention to ban them.
In Spain, the National Waste Plan approved by Congress in early 2007 provided for a reduction of 70% of such bags by 2015. For this, the Ministry of Environment has proposed replacing them with paper, which is broken down more quickly and emits less CO2 in its manufacture.
In Sweden and Germany are the countries where there is a greater awareness to avoid using plastic bags. In France, will ban non-degradable plastic packaging from 2011.