Question

Impact of use of plastic bags on environment procedure

Answer 1

Disposable shopping bags are convenient, but they are a major source of waste and pollution in our society. In this guide, we will teach you about how plastic shopping bags damage the environment. We also will discuss alternatives to using plastic shopping bags.

With this information, you will be able to make an impact in your community to reduce waste and pollution.

Animal Impact

Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean is the home of the biggest albatross colony on Earth. These birds fly there to next on these highly isolated islands, and they forage at sea, often hundreds of miles out, to look for food for offspring. Unfortunately, thousands of these precious birds have been found dead at Midway because they had ingested large amounts of plastic bag shards and pieces. All of the plastic that was found in these birds is brought to the island by adult birds who then feed it to young birds. It is estimated that four tons of plastic accumulates here daily.

The majority of wildlife on Earth is in our seas and oceans. This means there are hundreds of other animals and birds who are at risk of injury and death by ingesting or being entangled in plastic bag flotsam. Floating plastic shopping bags can be mistaken to be jellyfish by marine animals who consume them. One species that is at risk from the bags are sea turtles. They risk extinction in part because of ingesting large amounts of plastics. Shards of plastic fester in the stomach because the plastic cannot be properly digested.

Environmental Impact

Litter from plastic bags is not just on land. Plastic shopping bags have heavily contributed to a huge amount of plastic debris found in the North Pacific Ocean. This is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is estimated to be double the size of Hawaii, and could even be as large as the entire continental US. The Wild Studies Institute has reported that as all drains go to the ocean, 80% of this trash in the ocean originated from land.

Kamilo Beach in Hawaii is often buried in several feet of plastic bags that washes in from the sea. There also is a joke in New York City, which uses a billion plastic bags per year, that the flower of the city is actually a plastic shopping bag stuck in a tree