banning plastic bags is great for the world, right

California and Hawaii banned them, then New York. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great For The World, Right Not So Fast Physicists Rewrite a Quantum Rule That Clashes With Our Universe. First off, I had a lot of cracker jokes, but more importantly being a heat intensive process, the production of plastic bags requires a good amount of energy, and it should come as no surprise that these petrochemical facilities typically use natural gas for their electricity source. Wonder why you hear about legislation concerning plastic bags? In fact, the only place they havent been is Dave and Busters. ETHAN: Beyond climate though, crackers cause a lot of issues for surrounding communities. If a plastic bag is reused in the home as the garbage bag in a bathroom waste bin, does that reduce its footprint by eliminating the need for another small plastic garbage bag? And just like that, a step towards zero waste is taken, and it feels good. If they were going to use a slur for white people, why not name it Karen or Wonderbread? Its the type of giving that allows us to plan for future projects and provides us with the consistent funding we need to continue bringing you the climate news that you rely on. On The Pros and Cons of Banning Plastic Bags by John Stossel [wrong buzz, rewind] Cracker? Instagram, Follow us on So I was really interested to see what the data would say about this were people having to buy more garbage bags now that the plastic bags that they got from grocery stores were no longer available. Plastic bags should be banned as it pollutes the water and land. Put all that together, and National Geographic estimates that a paper bag would need to be used anywhere from 3 to 43 times in order to neutralize its environmental impact as compared to plastic. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. Dr. Taylor, could you tell us a bit about your background and research interests? The Massachusetts proposal may not become law this year, but it's the latest sign that the plastic bag industry is losing this war. 'Banning plastic bags is great for the world, Right? Well discuss the extent to which plastic bags are a problem, some of the shortcomings of the trendier solutions, and some other less commonly discussed ideas for how to most sustainably and effectively move forward. In some cases, people start buying more plastic trash bags now that they cant use their grocery bags to store trash. The Supreme Court Has Delayed Its Abortion Pill Decision. The reasons for papers higher carbon footprint are complex, but can mostly be understood as stemming from the fact that paper bags are much thicker than plastic bags. In accordance with the budge bill passed last year, New York State retailers will be banned from doling out single-use plastic bags, starting on March 1. There are so very many variables. For more than 250 years, mathematicians have wondered if the Euler equations might sometimes fail to describe a fluids flow. Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? And those seven ethylene projects are concentrated in just three counties in Texas: Harris County, Jefferson County, and Brazoria County. The Search for Long Covid Treatments Takes a Promising Turn. For example, because paper bags take up so much more space, more trucks are needed to ship paper bags to a store than to ship plastic bags. ETHAN: Obviously, this is a ridiculously nuanced issue, and while it might not be the most pressing concern of our generation, its absolutely worth discussing, especially given how popular the topic has been. Now theres a breakthrough. Plastic Bags Take Up To 1,000 Years to Decompose. But when ethylene gas escapes the facility and is exposed to sunlight, it turns to smog, which has been associated with increased rates of asthma, lung and respiratory infections, and cardiovascular problems. 500 billion plastic grocery bags are used worldwide. Featuring special guest Dr. Rebecca Taylor, Senior Lecturer of Economics at the University of Sydney. Why We Shouldn't Ban Plastic Bags Right now, one of the best ways to help Grist continue to thrive is by becoming a monthly member. Never mind, that was underwhelming. Now, Im not sure how far along plant plastic or CO2 plastic are in the development process, but certainly very exciting possibilities if they could scale up. Not a fan of arcade games, I guess. Microplastics can be ingested by anyone from seabirds to fish to even humans through our food and water, and can cause health issues, reduce appetites, and even increase the risk of mortality. Was Implementation the Right Theme for COP27? The reasons for papers higher carbon footprint are complex, but can mostly be understood as stemming from the fact that paper bags are much thicker than plastic bags. Two weeks ago, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a measure that would ban plastic bags from being dispensed by many retail businesses and require a charge of 10 cents or more for a. But theres also so much nuance to this issue, and its important to consider these consequences of bag bans as we come up with the best possible solutions. So paper bag usage did increase quite a bit. Improperly discarded bags have polluted waterways, clogged sewers, and been found in oceans, affecting the ecosystem of marine creatures. 2- From a retailer's perspective, the thin plastic bags are the most economical of all. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. "Banning Plastic Bags Is Great For The World, Right? Its right up there with Taylor Swifts jet, Beyond Burgers, and figuring out which soup is best for throwing at artwork. Unlike reusable fabric bags, plastic bags can take lifetimes to biodegrade.Over that time, their light weight allows them to be carried long distances, causing environmental havoc along the way. ETHAN: So where do we go from here? Whos building these things, Triscuit? ETHAN: Its true. NADJA: Will you at least go and talk to it? Now thats just one set of data, but I hope my point is clear: the production of our plastic bags causes harmful air pollution, and that pollution disproportionately hits low income and minority communities. A single mom, or someone working two jobs, is more likely to have to do her shopping in a rush on the way home from work than to go out specifically with a tote bag in hand. Cracker plants release air pollutants such as benzene which is linked to cancer and childhood leukemia, toluene which is linked to birth defects and brain, liver, and kidney problems, formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen, and particulate matter which is linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease and lung and bladder cancer. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can do great harms to wildlife. But for UPROSE, that concern is outweighed by the negative impacts of plastic bags on disadvantaged communities. And thats actually increasing the carbon footprint. Follow us on As part of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Grist moved its office headquarters to the Bullitt Center in Seattles vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. Its like time outs. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. Plastic bag bans havent fixed the entire problem where theyve been implemented. As longtime plastic bag adversary Ian Frazier recently reported in The New Yorker, In 2014, plastic grocery bags were the seventh most common item collected during the Ocean Conservancys International Coastal Cleanup, behind smaller debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and bottle caps. The New York City Sanitation Department collects more than 1,700 tons of single-use carry-out bags every week, and has to spend $12.5 million a year to dispose of them. What if they used solar or wind? As compared to plastic bags, paper bags also require significantly more energy and water to manufacture, and more energy to transport since theyre heavier. TAYLOR: Yes, how much people actually reuse the various types of reusable bags has a big impact on their environmental impact. Bags made out of woven plastic like polypropylene can be reused over and over, meaning even though there are consequences to producing plastic, you dont have to manufacture as many bags. Some bills, like in Massachusetts, try to reduce the use of paper bags as well as plastic, but still favor paper. ETHAN: Given all this nuance weve explored pertaining to carry out bags, grocery bags, is there any advice you have for individuals who want to do their part? ETHAN: Another thing I wanted to bring up part of why I was so excited to talk to you is that there is the word behavioral economics in your work. But University of Sydneys Dr. Rebecca Taylor says not so fast. The Australian study concluded that the best option appears to be a reusable bag, but one made from recycled plastic, not cotton. Capacitors. Only 2.4 percent of the worlds cropland is planted with cotton, yet it accounts for 24 percent of the global market for insecticides and 11 percent for pesticides, the World Wildlife Fund reports. Heres why thats a big deal. The larger takeaway is that no bag is free of environmental impact, whether thats contributing to climate change, ocean pollution, water scarcity, or pesticide use. ETHAN: Seven of those 16 projects were related to ethylene or polyethylene, including the five highest polluters of the group. As the Australian study noted, a cotton bag has major environmental impacts of its own. And beyond that, ethylene itself is a dangerous pollutant. So I am an environmental economist. Climate change, they say, isnt the only form of environmental degradation to worry about. Maybe call the manager over or fly the CEO in on a helicopter or pull the fire alarm so everyone starts screaming and running. Do single-use plastic bans work? - BBC Future Fees have a smaller, but still significant, effect. A lot of the waste ends up in our communities, says Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of UPROSE, an environmental and social justice-oriented community organization in Brooklyn. Banning plastic bags is great for the world, right? If they dont get reused a certain amount of time. The Secrets of Covid Brain Fog Are Starting to Lift. ETHAN: That new ban was signed into law on September 30, and the fact that it was in the news goes to show that even with all the other things going on in the world, people are paying attention to this issue. Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. Wait, sorry, wrong kind of cracker. Thats leading to a split in the anti-bag movement. New York's ban will take effect in 2020 but will apply to single-use plastic bags you can get at grocery stores or retailers. Advocates for plastic bag bans often neglect to ask what will replace plastic bags and what the environmental impact of that replacement will be. Start with your washing machine. All of these policies give consumers a little more freedom, but try to nudge them in the right direction through small fees or rewards in the 5 to 15 cent per bag range. The Massachusetts proposal may not become law this year, but it's the latest sign that the plastic bag industry is losing this war. The remaining 21 percent, of course, came from the Kardashians. Plastic bags not only destroy the physical infrastructure, she says, referring to the way they clog up storm drains and other systems, they contribute to emissions. And she points out that marine plastic pollution is a threat to low-income people who fish for their dinner: So many frontline communities depend on food coming from the ocean. Thats why her group supported New York Citys bag fee even though its more of a burden on lower-income citizens. But if communicated to the public well, I think its an interesting idea, and Id be curious to see if a similar approach could work with bags. 4 Absent the fee, which provides the economic incentive to bring reusable bags to the store, simple bans tend to shift consumers from one type . [booo] Yeah, that was even rough for my standards. A tweak could let quantum possibilities increase as space expands. Scientists are working on that, and according to a 2021 thesis study from LUT University in Finland, if that process were powered by clean energy, plastic bags made from carbon dioxide could actually be carbon negative. This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. The shift from one single-use bag to another single-use bag may improve one environmental outcome, but be offset by another environmental impact.. Every time you need to process a new batch of polyethylene, you bring it to the facility and say, Polly want a cracker?. [bell ring] Like blueberries or trips to the bathroom, not all plastics are created equal, and single-use plastic bags are typically made from a material called high-density polyethylene. Its like the Snapchat of ocean trash its no YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, but its still relevant. I also mistake plastic bags for food sometimes, and let me tell you, Walmart makes a delicious tall kitchen. 1. If your chief concern is climate change, things get even muddier. I guess the name does make sense. Last month, the New York City Council passed a 5-cent-per-bag fee on single-use bags handed out by most retailers. Also, this question is something like asking, Would you prefer to get a parking ticket or a tax assessment? It depends on the specifics, but its better to avoid both wherever possible. Goldstein is confident that if people switch to reusable bags, even cotton ones, and use them consistently, that will ultimately be better for the environment. The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. Or, another idea, what if plastic could be made directly from carbon dioxide that we suck from the atmosphere? Theres no easy answer, says Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which backed NYCs bag fee. Not So Fast" by Ben Adler and the essay "Choking The Oceans With Plastic" by Charles J. Moore they both pose a connection and an area of disagreement. The instinct to favor reusable bags springs from an understandable urge to reduce our chronic overconsumption, but the bags we use are not the big problem. But when ethylene gas escapes the facility and is exposed to sunlight, it turns to smog, which has been associated with increased rates of asthma, lung and respiratory infections, and cardiovascular problems. The one perk with bans is that its by far the easiest policy to explain and enforce. Listen Up America: You Need to Learn How to Recycle. Because we do see such a strong response of having to pay for your bag, when you have to pay for your bag, it makes it an active decision, instead of just default, getting a whole bunch of bags that you dont really think about, we find that bag taxes are actually as effective as bag bans, and getting people to change their behavior, potentially without some of the unintended consequences of completely eliminating an option making people switch to other bags, which might actually be more harmful for the environment. Different studies say different things, but the point is clear: even though paper bags are much better for the environment in the disposal stage, the rest of the supply chain is riddled with problems. The Pros and Cons of Plastic Bag Bans | Dumpsters.com And in pretty much any case, people shift to an alternative type of grocery bag, and while plastic is unique in that it does not decompose, other types of bags have issues of their own. Made from fossil fuels 3. Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast The ideal city bag policy would probably involve charging for paper and plastic single-use bags, as New York City has decided to do, while giving out reusable recycled-plastic bags to those who need them, especially to low-income communities and seniors. Plastic is a toxin that stays in the environment, marine animals ingest it, and it enters their bodies and then ours.. So were still figuring it out right now, but weve got a great episode for you today. ETHAN: But first, its time for Plastic Bags 101. And as you mentioned, tote bags can be actually more harmful. And so I think, and subsidies can be quite expensive for governments to run or source to run. What's in the Bag? The Problem with Single Use Plastics Did you just finish trick or treating? To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. ETHAN: Clips today came from 23 ABC News. And so I was interested in understanding to what degree does a patchwork of policies actually lead customers to switch where theyre shopping. Anything thats not zero gets, you know a pretty big impact. You get merch, bonus content, and more. Over Half of the Worlds Penguin Species Are Threatened, A New Natural Gas Project in Mozambique Gives Locals All of the Costs and None of the Benefits. I know it sounds silly, but it would make a difference. ETHAN: Welcome to episode 106 of The Sweaty Penguin: Antarcticas Hottest Podcast. Obviously, a cotton tote does have a much longer life than a plastic or paper bag, but we also have to be honest with ourselves. According to the Ocean Conservancys 2020 Coastal Cleanup Report, plastic grocery bags ranked number 6 for trash in the ocean. I mean, throw some Dijon on there and youve got lunch! Rough Draft 14 - Writing - The Effects Of Plastic In the essay ETHAN: After we drill and frack and insert other PG13 sounding term here, we have to actually turn our fossil fuels into polyethylene. The instinct to favor reusable bags springs from an understandable urge to reduce our chronic overconsumption, but the bags we use are not the big problem. Cause of environmental pollution 2. The big difference is that paper does biodegrade eventually. People still need bags to bring home their groceries. After the break, well discuss where bag bans have shown shortcomings, the pros and cons of other types of grocery bags, and some other solution ideas that havent gained the same level of popularity as Dijon-crusted plastic. Cotton tote bags dont fare well either. But are bans on plastic bags or reusable alternatives like tote or canvas bags viable solutions to the worlds plastic problem? And all of these materials do better? Have a listen. TAYLOR: When I put my economist hat, the sort of first tool that I really think that policymakers should consider is a small fee, or a tax on all the different types of carry out bags. California and Hawaii already have . And just a few weeks ago, California took it one step further, banning not just single-use plastic bags at checkout, but those smaller produce bags as well. Some are funded by plastic industry groups, like the ironically named American Progressive Bag Alliance. In May 2016, the New York City Council passed a 5-cent-per-bag fee on single-use bags handed out by most retailers. And what I found was the policies were very successful in reducing the amount of plastic carry out bags people used at supermarkets, it goes to zero as you would expect with a ban. Those are the kinds of topics that I focus on in my research. Some social justice activists who work in low-income urban neighborhoods or communities of color also argue that plastic bags are a particular scourge. Studies of bags environmental impacts over their life cycle have reached widely varying conclusions. But what I do know I find so fascinating. Heres Dr. Taylor discussing some of her research on that front. Thank you all for listening, and Ill see you next week. The past and future are tightly linked in conventional quantum mechanics. How Do We Protect Them? out of class essay 1 - OUT OF CLASS ESSAY Banning plastic bags is great And to be fair, it is an issue. Do Plastic Bag Bans Work? - NRDC So if its something thats easy to keep in your car, or in your purse or in your backpack that you know youll reuse, then thats going to be the bag for you. But not just anywhere. Its not easy being a green consumer, in part because there are these different dimensions of environmental impact. So when you do lifecycle assessments of these two different types of material, paper bags end up being much worse on sort of their upstream, the manufacturing side, so its a bit concerning to also see the shift to paper. They are not the largest sources of plastic pollution Plastic waste is indeed a.