PROS & CONS
There are two sides to every debate right? Still when you stack the advantages of implementing a plastic bag ban against the disadvantages, one thing becomes clear – there really isn’t a good reason to oppose a ban of disposable plastic bags. The reality of plastic bags is that while they are in fact recyclable, only a small percentage finds their way into a recycling bin. Whereas using reusable bags for example cotton tote bags, or heavy duty paper bags.
Most plastic bags end up in PJP landfill or as litter and no matter how you tabulate the numbers, plastic bags do not safely break down and it costs money to pick up litter. The MUA of Jersey city approved a new fee of $1.92 per 100 cubic feet of water to fund the city’s $15.1 million garbage and recycling contract with Elizabeth-based Regional Industries. People and groups against banning plastic bags attempt to diminish the harmful and damaging realities of these facts. Most of the reasons bandied about by those who contest plastic bag bans are not so much reasons, as they are counterarguments against valid realities to implementing a ban.
PROS
- Eliminating plastic bags reduces cost of goods: Jersey city mom and pop stores have to factor in the cost of disposable bags into their prices. By eliminating plastic bags, stores can lower prices, helping shoppers save $18 to $30 annually.
- Plastic bags are not biodegradable: When plastics bags become litter, they pollute oceans, rivers, farmlands, cities, and neighborhoods. Bans eliminate bags, which equals less litter and less pollution.
- Picking up litter costs tax money: Banning plastic bags will reduce litter and allow for tax money to be redirected to more important areas.
- Marine life will improve: Marine animals often mistake plastic bags as jellyfish or plankton, leading them to consume the litter and become ill or die.
- Drainage infrastructures run more efficiently: Plastic litter often clogs drainage systems, causing unnecessary flooding in Hoboken for example.
- Decrease the mosquito population: Discarded plastic bags collect rainwater and creates a breeding ground for mosquitos, some of which could carry the West Nile Virus or Triple E Virus.
CONS
- Plastic bans manufacturers scale back: Bans often lead plastic bag manufacturers to scale back business and may lead to layoffs.
Whats the Debate?
Jersey City began enforcing a city-wide ban on single-use plastic carry-out bags on June 28, 2019. Jersey City has only banned single-use plastic bags. Plastic bags that are 2.25 mils or thicker can be given to consumers because they can be reused up to 125 times and cleaned. Groups opposed to bag bans have argued that while litter does contribute to the death of thousands of marine animals each year, it is not fair to single out plastic bags as the cause.
Just because there is a wide variety of litter in our oceans does not mean we should sit by and not attempt to begin to fix the plastic problem. Solving parts of a problem—with products like reusable tote bags—ultimately serves to contribute to a greater solution.
Opposing groups have also claimed that cleaning up plastic bag litter is not that expensive and municipalities that claim a financial savings as a result of implementing a ban are not portraying the numbers accurately. At electricaljungle we say that no matter how much money is spent cleaning up litter, it is too much. When money is directed to cleaning up litter, that means there is less money to fix infrastructure and build communities.
What do you think? Comment below
