banning plastic bags is great for the world, right

Made from fossil fuels 3. Cracker? Plastic bag bans havent fixed the entire problem where theyve been implemented. People look at [paper] and say its degradable, therefore its much better for the environment, but its not in terms of climate change impact, says David Tyler, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon who has examined the research on the environmental impact of bag use. Single-use plastics seem to be disappearing. There are other options though. 1. I hope at least one of those cracked you up. And so I was interested in understanding to what degree does a patchwork of policies actually lead customers to switch where theyre shopping. If youre singularly focused on eliminating plastic bags, theres a level of convenience from a policymaker standpoint thats tempting. Waste in particular, plastic packaging, how it is used, how it gets discarded. How do we make polyethylene? When the plastic bags were banned in California, paper bags were still allowed with the feet. Over Half of the Worlds Penguin Species Are Threatened, A New Natural Gas Project in Mozambique Gives Locals All of the Costs and None of the Benefits. Rather than automatically using a bag, just ask the customer for their bags, or maybe even stop keeping bags at the register at all. In fact, 79 percent of microplastics sampled in the marine environment originated from polyethylene specifically. Bag bans cut this litter off at the source: In San Jose, California, a plastic bag ban led to an 89 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags winding up in the citys storm drains. But advocates of these laws and journalists who cover the issue often neglect to ask what will replace plastic bags and what the environmental impact of that replacement will be. Eastern Hemlocks Are Declining. Featuring special guest Dr. Rebecca Taylor, Senior Lecturer of Economics at the University of Sydney. Its been more than five years since single-use plastic bags like these were banned from grocery stores, a ban advocates say made strides for the environment. They are not the largest sources of plastic pollution Plastic waste is indeed a. YouTube, Follow us on As longtime plastic bag adversary Ian Frazier recently reported in The New Yorker, In 2014, plastic grocery bags were the seventh most common item collected during the Ocean Conservancys International Coastal Cleanup, behind smaller debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and bottle caps. The New York City Sanitation Department collects more than 1,700 tons of single-use carry-out bags every week, and has to spend $12.5 million a year to dispose of them. And sort of the bottom line, what I found with in terms of like the amount of plastic, was about a third of the plastic that was eliminated by the carry out bag ban came back in the form of garbage bags, which do tend to be a bit thicker than the carry out bags. The reasons for papers higher carbon footprint are complex, but can mostly be understood as stemming from the fact that paper bags are much thicker than plastic bags. It honestly sounds like a superhero, doesnt it? Its the same you know, it gets rolled into the price of your groceries the same way that youre paying for the cashiers, and the store workers and the age back and all of that you are paying for your plastic bags, but you dont see that what we call marginal cost per plastic bag. 12 Compelling Reasons For Banning Plastic Bags [2023 Update] - MindsetEco Start with your washing machine. Like cigarettes, plastic bags have recently gone from a tolerated nuisance to a widely despised and discouraged vice. Scientists are working on that, and according to a 2021 thesis study from LUT University in Finland, if that process were powered by clean energy, plastic bags made from carbon dioxide could actually be carbon negative. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. The ideal city bag policy would probably involve charging for paper and plastic single-use bags, as New York City has decided to do, while giving out reusable recycled-plastic bags to those who need them, especially to low-income communities and seniors. Because with any product, its important to think about all those three dimensions, can we as consumers reduce the amount that were using? I took a look at a 2017 Congressional Report which found the petrochemical industry was, at the time, pursuing 48 new plastics-related projects in the Houston area. Never mind, that was underwhelming. Come with external costs 9. Was Implementation the Right Theme for COP27? If so, awesome, although we should probably talk about why youre that obsessed with your tote bag. I hope at least one of those cracked you up. Heres why thats a big deal. I asked Dr. Taylor how we can account for the cost of alternatives when we create policies to address plastic bags. But are bans on plastic bags or reusable alternatives like tote or canvas bags viable solutions to the worlds plastic problem? In fact, every region of the U.S. has a different energy mix. Not So Fast. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Wait, sorry, wrong kind of cracker. Have a listen. In 2018 though, 68.1 percent of paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling, which is a really impressive number, although its worth noting that paper fibers become weaker each time theyre recycled, so there are still limitations to that. But if communicated to the public well, I think its an interesting idea, and Id be curious to see if a similar approach could work with bags. The U.S. is the number two producer of polyethylene in the world behind China, and in the U.S., 80 percent of our primary petrochemical supply is in Texas and Louisiana. Last month, the New York City Council passed a 5-cent-per-bag fee on single-use bags handed out by most retailers. This paper in particular was interested in a California policy, which is a ban on thin plastic, carry out bags, and a fee for paper bags of about 10 cents, usually, sometimes five cents. NADJA: Where did you get your hands on a peer-reviewed study? out of class essay 1 - OUT OF CLASS ESSAY Banning plastic bags is great So some of my recent research was looking at to what extent do we actually see border shopping occur? Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can do great harms to wildlife. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Special thanks to our Emperor Penguin patrons Lawrence Harris and Brownies Central. So have at least 88 localities in California, including the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus cities and towns in more than a dozen other states and more than a dozen other countries. So its a bit nuanced. So paper bag usage did increase quite a bit. Improperly discarded bags have polluted waterways, clogged sewers, and been found in oceans, affecting the ecosystem of marine creatures. [deep echoey filter] ITS INSATIABLE! A pound of cotton requires more than 5,000 gallons of water on average, a thirst far greater than that of any vegetable and even most meats. Some bills, like in Massachusetts, try to reduce the use of paper bags as well as plastic, but still favor paper. How many plastic bags are replaced by one cotton tote bag? Were finding that hybrid bands can be as you know, as successful as the taxes, just standalone taxes. In fact, we can take it a step further. Aw, dammit, I was so close! People look at [paper] and say its degradable, therefore its much better for the environment, but its not in terms of climate change impact, says David Tyler, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon who has examined the research on the environmental impact of bag use. Or do state governments get to say, when local governments do implement the policies, theres a concern that it causes a patchwork of policies that might harm businesses, confused customers. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. ETHAN: Its true. Right now, one of the best ways to help Grist continue to thrive is by becoming a monthly member. I also mistake plastic bags for food sometimes, and let me tell you, Walmart makes a delicious tall kitchen. And in particular, stores start offering thicker plastic bags and sticker paper bags for free. ETHAN: That new ban was signed into law on September 30, and the fact that it was in the news goes to show that even with all the other things going on in the world, people are paying attention to this issue. AD READER: Is it 12:01am on November 1st? Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? And what I found was the policies were very successful in reducing the amount of plastic carry out bags people used at supermarkets, it goes to zero as you would expect with a ban. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. [end filter] Never mind, that was underwhelming. And thats just not true. Plastic bags are made from non-renewable sources and on this account, highly contribute to climate change. ETHAN: When environmentalists talk about plastic bags though, its often not about the production process, but rather what happens after we throw them out. TAYLOR: Yes. All that said, paper is made from trees, meaning paper bags contribute to deforestation. Spoiler alert: plastics parents got divorced at age eleven and it still isnt over it. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Paper does have its own environmental consequences in terms of how much energy it takes to generate, acknowledges Emily Norton, director of the Massachusetts Sierra Club. The past and future are tightly linked in conventional quantum mechanics. Two weeks ago, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a measure that would ban plastic bags from being dispensed by many retail businesses and require a charge of 10 cents or more for a recycled paper or reusable bag. This episode of The Sweaty Penguin explores a wide range of issues including plastic bag manufacturing and looks at the shortcomings of some proposed solutions. Not a fan of arcade games, I guess. So what this tells us is that people were actually doing this very green thing. ETHAN: Like, come on, we dont need more toxic chemicals in one spot! In fact, it may not even be the most effective option. But studies conducted in Australia or Europe have limited applicability in the U.S., particularly when youre considering climate impact, because every country has a different energy mix. The measure now under consideration in Massachusetts, for example, would mandate that single-use paper bags contain at least 40 percent recycled fiber. Paper bags do have some pros over plastic theyre biodegradable, recyclable, compostable, reusable, all the fun -ables. Cotton is a crop that requires massive amounts of water and energy to produce. Plastic Bags Are a Problem. Are Plastic Bag Bans a Solution? - PBS Paper bags do have some pros over plastic theyre biodegradable, recyclable, compostable, reusable, all the fun -ables. In the last couple weeks, I believe around five of our team members got sick, so weve been struggling a little bit! Thats right, nothing like getting high on your own supply. [wrong buzz, rewind] Cracker? As great as it is to see policy efforts get going, we want to hold them accountable and make sure they actually make the biggest positive impact possible. There are also some challenges regarding the design of such a policy, as Dr. Taylor explains. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great For the World Right Questions 1-5.docx The Bad Astronomer Takes You on a Tour of the Cosmos. The one perk with bans is that its by far the easiest policy to explain and enforce. Are Plastic Bag Bans a Solution? Obviously, a cotton tote does have a much longer life than a plastic or paper bag, but we also have to be honest with ourselves. Often, the problem shifts. So I usually recommend considering a bag tax first. Whos building these things, Triscuit? And so many of these supermarkets have actually rolled back their policies. California and Hawaii already have . The New York State Plastic Bag Task Force, convened by Governor Andrew Cuomo in March 2017, found that a hybrid ban on plastic bags along with a fee on alternatives is more effective than a simple ban. Thicker, reusable bags are still available for purchase for 10 cents. Fees have a smaller, but still significant, effect. All rights reserved. Last month, the New York City Council passed a 5-cent-per-bag fee on single-use bags handed out by most retailers. So the unintended consequences. Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? | Grist Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? debut in season five. As far as I know, nobody has done the definitive analysis, which would necessarily need to have a large number of caveats and qualifications. Some bills, like in Massachusetts, try to reduce the use of paper bags as well as plastic, but still favor paper. Does it get recycled? Thats right, its always the one you most suspect. Another entirely different approach could be making plastic bags more sustainable. On The Pros and Cons of Banning Plastic Bags by John Stossel Theyre just not very effective. But what if reusable bags arent good either? And I also looked at not just shopping at a supermarket across the border but also eating out Instead of grocery shopping, and I do find that there is this, you know, substitution, this cross border shopping, some people do try to avoid going to, you know, regulated supermarkets, especially if they live near a border, where they can easily get to another another grocery store, while other customers if they dont live near a border, they might be slightly more likely to decide to eat out for dinner as opposed to grocery shopping, especially if they didnt bring their bags with them or that party. So what was this paper about and what were your findings? NADJA: Will you at least go and talk to it? Two weeks ago, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a measure that would ban plastic bags from being dispensed by many retail businesses and require a charge of 10 cents or more for a recycled paper or reusable bag. Its like excuses for not doing your homework. TAYLOR: So an interesting thing with local policies, and theres a lot of debate about whether policies like these should be implemented at the state level or at the local level. Because we do see such a strong response of having to pay for your bag, when you have to pay for your bag, it makes it an active decision, instead of just default, getting a whole bunch of bags that you dont really think about, we find that bag taxes are actually as effective as bag bans, and getting people to change their behavior, potentially without some of the unintended consequences of completely eliminating an option making people switch to other bags, which might actually be more harmful for the environment. ITS INSATIABLE! Even studies conducted with the purest of intentions depend on any number of assumptions. ETHAN: I think this paper that you did goes to a larger conversation about plastic because we do often zero in on specific products, will complain about straws or about bags or about bottles. Then, that ethylene can be sent to a new plant where theyll add a catalyst which initiates a chemical reaction and forms our high-density polyethylene. Animals can become entangled in the bags and drown or mistake the bags for food which can clog their intestines and cause them to starve. If a plastic bag is reused in the home as the garbage bag in a bathroom waste bin, does that reduce its footprint by eliminating the need for another small plastic garbage bag? Remember when I said petrochemical facilities use natural gas for electricity? Its like time outs. Theres no easy answer, says Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which backed NYCs bag fee. Polyethylene, however, is recyclable. Our best hope the next time Earth is in the crosshairs? Then, that ethylene can be sent to a new plant where theyll add a catalyst which initiates a chemical reaction and forms our high-density polyethylene. The Supreme Court Has Delayed Its Abortion Pill Decision. I also looked at paper bags as well. Anyway, at a cracker plant, they use extreme heat to crack the molecular bonds in the oil or gas to produce a new gas called ethylene. In fact, every region of the US has a different energy mix. And honestly, a little sketchy that ethylene cant handle sunlight. Again, Im not referring to carbon emissions, Im talking nitrous oxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, smog, Sagittariuses, really bad stuff. ETHAN: Does this mean bag bans are bad or bag alternatives are bad? Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast - Pinterest Paper does have its own environmental consequences in terms of how much energy it takes to generate, acknowledges Emily Norton, director of the Massachusetts Sierra Club. And behavioral economics really explores a lot of that. The U.S. is the number two producer of polyethylene in the world behind China, and in the U.S., 80 percent of our primary petrochemical supply is in Texas and Louisiana. They were reusing their carry out bags as garbage bags. If they were going to use a slur for white people, why not name it Karen or Wonderbread? Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast Nakuru, Kenya In the open-air Wakulima Market thin plastic shopping bags have disappeared, banished by Kenya's national bag ban. And the most common substitute, paper bags, may be just as bad or worse, depending on the environmental problem youre most concerned about. ETHAN: Another thing I wanted to bring up part of why I was so excited to talk to you is that there is the word behavioral economics in your work. Thats leading to a split in the anti-bag movement. In a rational model. And thats definitely a behavioral effect that we find. TAYLOR: Yeah, I think one thing that stands out, when we think about plastic bags, and when we think about sort of packaging, in general, is that theres this perception that its free, that theres no price, and that you can you know, youre not paying for the plastic bags that you use, thats not actually true, you actually do pay for the plastic bags that you use at the supermarket.
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