The Texas Government blog Texas The Lone Star State has an entry titled “Where is my plastic bag?” in which the author, Mildred, opposed the Austin plastic bag ban. Mildred supports her claim with these points, people not from Austin are not used to paying for bags, plastic bags are not a major problem for the environment, the increase of shoplifting, and the use of plastic bags other than for shopping. I disagree with Mildred and here is my counter argument.
As an individual who has experienced pre and post plastic bag ban, I can relate to those who are experiencing it for the first time. Paying for reusable bags and having to bring them every time I go grocery shopping is troublesome and inconvenient. However, if major environmental benefits is a result, I am willing to endure a minor inconvenience. This issue is completely subjective due to personal environmental standpoints.
Mildred’s argument, “the bag is not the major big problem for the environment” has no supporting evidence. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade and fill up landfill sites and oceans. Plastic litter can also lead to clogged drains, which result in sanitation, flooding and sewage problems. Plastic bags cause the death of many marine animals every year through ingestion. The incineration of plastic bags pollutes the air and releases toxic substances which contaminate soil and waterways. Plastic bags are also responsible for using up oil, a scarce natural resource.
There is no doubt that plastic bag usage can be environmentally very damaging. These concerns have caused governments around the world to introduce legislation to limit the use of plastic bags. They have used a variety of regulatory instruments for this purpose. However, complete bans have yielded mixed results creating a controversy. Some argue the ineffectiveness due to consumers continuing to use plastic bags in blatant violation of existing rules. Another major argument against plastic bag bans is that a ban shifts production to paper bags and compostable bags, both of which have heavy environmental consequences.
Mildred uses her experiences working in retail to support her claim on an increase in shoplifting due to the plastic bag ban. However, shoplifting is an age-old issue and no evidence of an increase since the plastic bag ban have been discovered.
As for plastic bags used for situations other than shopping, I believe it is indirectly related to the ban. You can still purchase plastic bags for other usages such as trash bags. The purpose of the plastic bag ban is to reduce plastic bags by eliminating free distribution of them in stores, not to eliminate them all together. In my personal experience, I still use plastic bags which I must now purchase but because I no longer get a near infinite amount every time I go to the grocery store, I have notice a reduction in plastic bag consumption in my house.
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