Issue #1 - Energy
required to manufacture plastic vs. paper
- It
takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it
does to manufacture a plastic bag.
- The
primary reason for this is that it takes only one-eighth as much material
to produce a plastic bag.
Issue #2 - Pollution
- The
majority of kraft paper is made by heating wood chips under pressure at
high temperatures in a chemical solution. The use of these toxic chemicals
contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain and water pollution.
- Paper
sacks generate 70% more air pollution than plastic bags.
- Paper
sacks generate 50 times more water pollution than plastic bags.
Issue #3 - The Landfill
Crisis
- Plastic
film is estimated to account for less than 3% by volume of municipal
landfills compared to 97% other materials.
- By
weight, plastics account for only 7% of the U.S. landfills compared to 36%
for paper.
Issue #4 -
Transportation
- It
takes seven trucks to deliver the same quantity of paper bags contained in
one truck of plastic bags.
Issue #5 - Recycling,
Reuse and Source Reduction
- It
takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to
recycle a pound of paper.
- Secondary
use of plastic bags reduces solid waste by reducing the need for new bags.
- Plastic
bags are 90% thinner than their paper alternatives and the use of these
thinner, superior films has had a significant impact on reducing the
volume and weight of plastics in municipal landfills.
Issue #6 - Degradability
- Special
additives can be blended with polyethylene resin to make them
"oxo-degradable," allowing them to degrade over a period of time
when exposed to various outdoor elements. Upon degrading, they will not
leave fragments, methane or harmful residues.
Information provide by Elkay Plastics.
Title: Should we be using poly bags or are they bad for the environment?
Description: Six reasons why poly bags are a sound choice for the environment.
Published: 12/17/2014
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