Vitania
01-05-2004, 08:40
There has been a recent campaign in Australia to convince the population to use alternatives to plastic bags in order to reduce their useage. While it has not been stated, the ultimate aim seems to be banning stores from offering their customers plastic bags, with some towns having already done this. The reason behind the campaign is that the bags pollute the environment and pose a threat to wildlife. This seems to be all good and well but I think very few people have thought of the consequences of such an action. Issues behind banning them include the following:
*It will be an inconvienience to everyone if we had to carry bags whenever we had to go shopping. Sometimes we intend to buy a few items but end up buying much more. What could the consumer do in such a situation? Could this have an effect on the economy?
*There are some bags retailers offer that you can't buy in calico form, such as those giant bags used to cover large items. The last thing I'd want when purchasing a new computer or other electronic item is for it to rain since there is no guarantee that the box will be able to absorb the moisture and prevent the computer from becoming wet. Then I could come home and find that I've just blown a thousand dollars because my computer is wet and the warranty won't cover such situations.
*The main use for supermarket plastic bags is as garbage liners. Will people be prepared to buy garbage liners if plastic bags are banned?
*Garbage liners are made of plastic anyway, so the issue of plastic bags biodegrading or breaking open and going astray still isn't solved. The alternative would be to go back to the days of incinerators, which I don't think many people would want.
Personally, I think the whole plastic bag/garbage issue could be solved if we burned all garbage in order to create energy. No more landfills, no more stray bags. There is the issue of pollution and greenhouse gases but in actual fact decomposing garbage releases more greenhouse gases than if it were burnt.
*It will be an inconvienience to everyone if we had to carry bags whenever we had to go shopping. Sometimes we intend to buy a few items but end up buying much more. What could the consumer do in such a situation? Could this have an effect on the economy?
*There are some bags retailers offer that you can't buy in calico form, such as those giant bags used to cover large items. The last thing I'd want when purchasing a new computer or other electronic item is for it to rain since there is no guarantee that the box will be able to absorb the moisture and prevent the computer from becoming wet. Then I could come home and find that I've just blown a thousand dollars because my computer is wet and the warranty won't cover such situations.
*The main use for supermarket plastic bags is as garbage liners. Will people be prepared to buy garbage liners if plastic bags are banned?
*Garbage liners are made of plastic anyway, so the issue of plastic bags biodegrading or breaking open and going astray still isn't solved. The alternative would be to go back to the days of incinerators, which I don't think many people would want.
Personally, I think the whole plastic bag/garbage issue could be solved if we burned all garbage in order to create energy. No more landfills, no more stray bags. There is the issue of pollution and greenhouse gases but in actual fact decomposing garbage releases more greenhouse gases than if it were burnt.