Plastic Alert!
Missing the Points?
Whilst it is true that the plastic bag will probably have left the tree long before the tree dies, plastic does not have the same ability as the tree to rot down and return to earth.
Most plastic bags do not biodegrade, some of them just photodegrade. This means that, over time, they will breakdown but, instead of being absorbed back into nature, they break up into smaller pieces and get into the waterways, the soil and the oceans and then into the food chain. In fact, we end up eating them!
There is a lot of talk about plastic bags that degrade but the facts are not quite as easily digestible. Take a look at our Plastic Breakdown to find out what the processes are.
A Few Numbers
Taking the world view, stats show that we use around 300 plastic bags each a year. That’s about one million bags every minute. On average we use these bags for around 12 minutes before discarding it.
Most of the rubbish in the sea is made of plastic and, because it doesn’t break down, animals are being killed by eating it in mistake of food, or getting tied up in it and unable to swim. It is the same story with birds that swim on our rivers and hedgehogs that root around our gardens at night.
What is Plastic?
At the most basic level, it’s oil. Yes, the same stuff you put in your car. Plastic is a bi-product of the hydro-carbon industry. For a more in depth answer take a look at our plastic definitions page.
Why us, Why now?
All over the world people are waking up to the fact that we cannot keep littering our planet as we do. Ireland has added a levy on plastic bags and Scotland is planning a similar approach. Many other countries have banned or are phasing them out such as: Italy, Denmark, Germany, France, Australia, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mumbai, West Bengal, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Somalia, Botswana, Philippines. Over in the States, California is spearheading the climate change movement and went plastic bag free early in 2007, other States and Canada are looking to follow their lead. Most recently, the Chinese government issued a ban of shops giving out plastic bags.
It’s a worldwide movement.
Something ordinary people can do that will make a difference.
Short Movie
If you have the time to watch a 10 minute movie on MySpaceTV this one is very good. It covers all the plastic facts and gives good examples.
