The question itself is enough to make a shopper uneasy: paper or plastic? Should we choose paper and leave the store feeling responsible for the death of a few more trees, or go with plastic and live with the guilt of adding more nonbiodegradable waste to the landfills? It really is a no-win situation for everyone involved. But hopefully, that’s all about to change.
The problem of plastics bags is finally getting some of the much needed attention at the legislative level. In March 2007, San Francisco became the first city in the country to ban the use of plastic bags at all large grocery and drug stores, specifically those that gross more than $3 million year. To the environmentally conscious this law comes as a victory that will hopefully keep the ball rolling into more cities across the nation. Since San Francisco’s new law was put into place, similar measures are being considered in cities such as New Haven, Conn.; Boston; Baltimore; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Santa Monica, Calif.; and Steamboat Springs, Colo.
So why all the fuss about plastic bags? Each year Americans use about 100 billion plastic bags. The oil used to manufacture the product leads to the production of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, and the bags take thousands of years to biodegrade. According to research only about 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled, meaning that the rest go into landfills or end up in waters where they are killing marine life.
For big businesses, the switchover to paper or a biodegradable plastic is reluctant one. The price of more eco-friendly bagging is more than most want to spend. What amounts to a few cents per bag will keep the plastic pouring into landfills unless firm action is taken.
Some stores are beginning to offer recycled, reusable paper bags in their stores for an additional cost to their customers. The problem appears to be that those short on cash opt for the freebie plastic bags, and those that buy them usually don’t remember to bring them back. A few stores offer plastic bag recycling centers in their stores, but have trouble getting shoppers to participate. So education and personal responsibility seems to be the key.
Shoppers will have to think “outside the bag” into order to cut back on pollution and unnecessary waste. It may be an inconvenience at first to remember to bring your own shopping bag or pay the extra few cents for a recycled one at the store, but everyone has to take responsibility for the planet and preserve its resources for future generations.
There are multiple retailers online offering reusable cloth shopping bags or bags made from recycled plastic bottles. These are the best options to cut back on waste and range from $5 to $15 depending on style. They can be used over and over again, and this way you won’t be dogged with weight of the question: paper or plastic?
April Michelle Garza - April is a graduate student studying journalism at the University of Mississippi. Besides writing for Suite 101, she is also active in ...
