Plastic Bags Debate: Should They Be Banned?

Plastic Bags Should Be Banned

• Plastic bag pollution harms the environment and detracts from its visual appeal
• Stores pass costs to consumers when plastic bags are not banned, leading to higher product prices and potentially reducing consumer spending
• Banning plastic bags could save consumers $18-$30 annually by reducing the cost of goods
• Banning plastic bags could lead to increased job opportunities for reusable bag manufacturers
• Reusable bags last longer and are easily cleaned
• Marine life suffers due to plastic bags - animals mistake them for food
• 60% of seabirds have consumed plastic; this is predicted to be 99% by 2050
• Plastic bags reduce the risk of disease transmission from mosquitoes, such as West Nile and Zika Virus
• Plastic bags can trap water and create mosquito breeding grounds, increasing mosquito populations
• Plastic bags pose a threat to marine life if left in the environment

Plastic Bags Aren't to Blame

• Banning plastic bags isn't a complete solution to pollution; other items contribute more negatively
• Plastic bags are easy to manage, store and use
• Oceans contain other pollutants such as oil spills and other garbage that have much greater negative impacts on marine life compared to plastic bags
• Plastic bags can be reused and recycled, reducing pollution on land and water
• Many products are created from recycled plastic bags, including traffic cones and carpeting
• Recycling programs can prevent plastic bags from becoming pollution
• Plastic bags are convenient in modern society

Arguing for/Against Banning

• Convenience of plastic bags vs. environmental concerns
• Cost savings vs. problems created by plastic bags
• Plastic bag bans could be useful for people who need them but may require them to incur costs to get what they want.