Over the last few years, the plastic bags we use in stores have been the centre of numerous discussions. These bags are made from oil, contribute to climate change and are a significant source of pollution. They can take several hundred years to break down, even when buried underground, and they emit toxic gases when burned.
Plastic bags are one of the most common items of waste collected during community cleanups in Southeastern NB. Lost or abandoned bags have serious impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. They are often carried by the wind and can kill animals or fish by suffocating them.
It is estimated that approximately three billion plastic bags are used in Canada every year. In New Brunswick, over 10 000 tons of plastic bags end up in the dump annually.
Many places across the country and around the world have already banned single-use plastic bags and others are considering it. Although some communities are only in the initial stages of the discussion, they will likely come to the same conclusions as the others: the plastic bag problem must be solved.
Reusable bags are now available everywhere. So why not act now instead of waiting for it to become law?
10 steps to eliminate plastic bags
- One of the first stages of solving a problem is to understand it. Learn some of the facts about plastic consumption and discover the real impact on the environment.
- Spread the word. In a community of 1 000 citizens, if every person refuses to use at least 5 bags a week, the community will avoid the use of 260 000 plastic bags per year!
- Reduce at the source- it takes a few seconds to refuse a plastic bag and politely remind the person at the cash that you choose to help the environment.
- Recycle those plastic bags that remain in circulation.
- Choose durable, cloth-based reusable bags in order to reduce your environmental footprint.
- Use reusable bags that are easily recyclable — bags made out of a single type of material.
- As much as possible, use bags that have been made locally from recycled materials.
- Leave bags in your car in order to avoid forgetting them. Get reusable bags that you can fold to take up little space in your purse or your backpack.
- When you buy in bulk, bring reusable containers.
- In order to reduce single-use plastics, use reusable containers such as water bottles and stainless steel straws, glass take-away containers and other types of reusable receptacles.
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