The Two Sides of the Debate Over Plastic Bag Bans 

Every argument has two sides, correct? However, when the benefits of imposing a plastic bag ban are weighed against the drawbacks, one thing becomes evident. There is no compelling reason to oppose a ban on disposable plastic bags. While plastic bags are recyclable, just a tiny percentage of them make their way into a recycling container. Using reusable polypropylene (pp) bags, on the other hand, repurposes post-industrial or pre-consumer recycled materials. We will discuss this further on our blog. 

The majority of plastic bags wind up in landfills or as litter. Regardless of how the numbers are calculated, plastic bags do not biodegrade safely, and picking up litter is expensive. Individuals and organisations opposed to plastic bag bans strive to minimise these harmful and destructive implications. The majority of the arguments advanced by individuals opposed to plastic bag bans are more significant than the  counterarguments that support enacting a ban. 

The Advantages of Plastic Bag Bans 

• Bans on plastic bags boost the economy. It raises sales for reusable bags and creates new job possibilities. 

• Eliminating plastic bags lowers the cost of items because retailers usually factor in the cost of disposable bags when setting their prices. By removing plastic bags, retailers can reduce expenses, saving buyers between $18 and $30 per year. 

• Bags made of plastic are not biodegradable. Plastic bags damage oceans, rivers, farmlands, cities, and communities when they become litter. Bag bans result in reduced garbage and pollution. 

• Picking up litter consumes tax dollars. The litter can be reduced by prohibiting plastic bags, and these tax dollars can be allocated to more important uses. 

• Marine life will improve if plastic bags are gotten rid of. Marine animals frequently mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or plankton, consuming the waste and becoming ill or dying. 

• Drainage systems operate more efficiently because plastic litter frequently jams drainage systems, resulting in unneeded floods. 

• Bans on plastic bags reduce reliance on a finite, non-renewable resource. We can reduce our dependence on this limited, non-renewable resource by prohibiting plastic bags. 

• By reducing the use of plastics, we can reduce the mosquito population. Discarded plastic bags gather rainwater, providing breeding habitat for mosquitos, some of which may carry the West Nile Virus or the Triple E Virus. 

The Disadvantages of Plastic Bag Bans 

• Plastic bag producers often experience business declines and unemployment due to plastic bag restrictions. 

• Buyers will incur an initial expense: plastic bag restrictions will require shoppers to acquire reusable bags, costing as little as $1.