In the 1950s, plastic bags were introduced as a convenience, but today, they have become a menace. They litter roadsides, congest sewer drains, and clog landfills. They also suffocate birds and marine life who mistake them for food.
The environmental hazards posed by plastic bags has resulted in numerous countries initiating plastic bag taxes and plastic bag bans — specifically, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Israel, Italy, Ireland, India, South Africa, and Taiwan.
The significance of these bans should not be underestimated. For instance, by banning plastic bags in 2008, China saved about 1.6 million tons of gasoline and reduced plastic bag consumption by 40 billion a year.
In the United States, only a few cities have banned plastic bags or introduced reusable plastic bags. In 2007, San Francisco started the trend while in 2010 Los Angeles implemented a ban. Other cities like Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia have tried to follow suit, but then, buckling under pressure exerted by the plastic industry, they only introduced a plastic bag recycling program.
If the United States were to eliminate plastic bags, 92 billion plastic bags a year would cease to be manufactured.