Is plastic bags really better than recycled paper bags?
Answer:
Hemp, cotton and canvas bags are the best.
Plastic Bags: There are a lot of reasons given why people 'like' plastic bags. However, they still never decompose no matter how many times you use them. This is compounded when people tie their rubbish into plastic bags. If you insist on using plastic bags you will be charged high taxes for doing so. So re-use as many times as possible then take them supermarket to be recycled.
Biodegradeable Bags/Bioplastics: Polylactic acid (PLA) a biodegradable polymer derived from lactic acid. These vegetable based bioplastics biodegrades quickly under composting conditions and does not leave toxic residue. However, bioplastic have own environmental impacts caused by manufacturing and disposal of end product. Again you will be charged for these impacts and taxed but on the plus side biodegradable bags (from potato and corn starches) are a new thriving industry
Paper Bags. Great if singly composted. In land fill can take years for layers to decompose. Still an organic material. But there is cost of production, costs to environment of pulp trees (monocultures, loss of habitat, etc) costs of recycling/disposal. Again you will have to pay for these production costs and disposal costs and taxed.
In UK instead of stop supplying plastic bags you get rewards for bringing your own. Money back, green points. Even with supermarket home delivery See Tesco. This has not been effective so we are back to taxes. In New Zealand Cloth bags are already promoted and sold in supermarkets. However this is not stopping plastic bag useage.
France is banning plastic bags 2007 others are moving towards it. The most effective is taxing plastic bag use. If we do not take action we will be taxed as the Irish are for using plastic bags. Effective as a decrease of 90% plastic bag use in Ireland.
None of them is best
the best is the bags made of 'jute'
no need to cut trees & no need for ethene like polymars which spoil our envoirnment.
it is made of fibre of wood so it is not harmful for environment
Just given the choice of paper or plastic - plastic is better - I did a study and paper uses more oil and causes pollution of rivers and air.
I've just recently read that, as far as how much energy it takes to make them, the difference is negligible. However, plastics will never biodegrade, while paper has a chance.
The best thing is to bring your own bag, and avoid the whole thing altogether.
To me they are cuz when we come from the store with a plastic bag. we use them for something else later.
If its biodegradable more cheers for everyone
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