Economics will stop plastic bag menace

This posting is about the tug-of-war issue of Canadian grocery stores giving and/or selling the dreadful plastic bags, which are harming the environment. Plastic bags take a few hundred years to break down as oppose to biodegradable plastic bags, which take as long as a few months to a couple of years. Countries such as China and Uganda have banned stores from giving them out, while others such as The Isle of Wight, Ireland and Ontario charge 5-20 cents per bag. It is a shame that money is always linked to possible solutions, even if it does not necessarily solve the problem, and by this I mean, that instead of Canada following China and Uganda by banning plastic bags for the health of the environment and people, they chose to charge a small fee for its use. Although most grocery stores have new and reuseable 'green friendly' shopping bags, either made from cloth, nylon, canvas or vinyl, they are still selling the dreadful plastic bags as well.

When will these stores realize that our health is important? When will they realize that if we do not take care of our country, provinces and cities, we will no longer have a place to call home (our space). This is where the economic part comes in. The article goes on to say that since plastic bags are cheap, they are everywhere and it encourages businesses to use and sell them, and customers to buy them. However, one suggestion made by the artictle states that "if the cheap part is taken away, people will find alternatives" (Teetzel, 2007). I agree with this statement because if businesses were charged dollars instead of cents for packaging, it would prompt them to change their packaging policies, especially if they know that their customers do not mind the change if its good for the environment. Another solution given is the use of biodegradable plastic bags which are gentler on the environment. If we all take the necessary steps in improving the way we shop by using greener-friendly materials, our environment will thank us, but we all have to work together to make 'our space' better.

Source:
Teetzel, D (2007). "Economics will stop plastic bag menace" from The Vaughan Citizen. Metroland Media Group Ltd. Richmond Hill, ON. Retrieved on January 10, 2008. www.yorkregion.com

Posted by Brenda Dixon