Categorías: Todo - agriculture - government - jobs - consumers

por Reza Moazzam hace 5 años

859

Plastic Bags

The plastic bag manufacturing industry in Canada plays a significant role in the economy by providing numerous jobs and supporting many livelihoods. However, the environmental repercussions of plastic bags are severe and far-reaching.

Plastic Bags

Plastic Bags

Agriculture

Flooding as a result of plastic bag drainage blocking can be damaging to crops
Plastic bag water pollution can have a negative impact on aquatic livestock

Government

Have the power to either ban or allow the use of plastic bags; ongoing debate
Plastic bags are often littered. Litter costs tax money

Consumers

The large scale detrimental effects may indirectly have a negative effect on consumers (i.e. food, atmosphere contaminated as a result of pollution, increase of mosquito population causing a rise in West Nile and Triple E Viruses, etc.)
Plastic bags are significantly cheaper than reusable bags; cheap, efficient vessel to transport things
Feeds into consumer culture - easy to use and dispose of, no need to maintain/keep lying around like a reusable bag

Main topic

Businesses

Plastic bag manufacturing provides thousands of jobs in Canada
90% of plastic bags used by Canadians are manufactured by Canadians; this industry provides a lot of people their livelihoods
Contributes to higher prices in stores, as price for plastic bags must be accounted for (unless consumers pay for them separately)

Environment

Plastic litter often blocks drainage systems which can cause unnecessary flooding
Flooding can kill wildlife, damage ecosystems
Plastic bags increase the mosquito population by collecting rainwater and providing them a breeding-ground
Since plastic bags are not biodegradable, they pollute oceans, farms, cities, rivers
Marine life impacted by this pollution may fall ill if it consumes the plastic (plastic bags are often mistaken for jellyfish and plankton)