Persuasive Essay Introduction Paragraph 361049

Essay Format Persuasive Essayintroduction Paragraph With Thesis Statem

What could make this invention any better? It is free for most shoppers, it is convenient for carrying materials, it is lightweight, and it has multiple purposes. These are some benefits of plastic shopping bags. According to Kinnelon Conserves.net, plastic bags are made from crude oil, which is heated and releases ethylene gas, leaving polyethylene as a byproduct (2018). This gel-like material is what makes plastic bags.

Ever since its beginnings in the 1960s, plastic shopping bags can be seen in many places: in shopping carts, in trunks of cars, and in kitchens. Katherine Mangu-Ward states, “In 2010, Guinness World Records named plastic bags the most ubiquitous consumer item in the world” (2015). But, the problem is that we also see plastic bags floating in oceans and trapped inside aquatic organisms. So, the question becomes, do we ban plastic bags in all fifty states, or do we continue using them in shopping centers?

Considering many factors, plastic bags should be banned from stores in all fifty states due to the negative effect they have on the environment when they are produced and after they are produced, along with the fact that many countries and cities have already successfully banned them and reaped the positive environmental benefits of doing so.

Paper For Above instruction

Plastic bags have become an integral part of modern shopping, yet their environmental impact warrants serious reconsideration of their widespread use. The debate over banning plastic bags revolves around their convenience and economic benefits versus their detrimental effects on the environment. Evidence from various scholarly sources underscores the urgent need for comprehensive bans to mitigate pollution and conserve natural resources. This essay argues that, based on environmental, ecological, and social considerations, plastic bags should be banned across all fifty states in the United States.

Introduction

The advent of plastic shopping bags in the 1960s revolutionized retail and consumer habits by providing an inexpensive, lightweight, and versatile means of carrying goods. However, the environmental toll caused by their production, disposal, and accumulation has sparked widespread concern among environmentalists, policymakers, and communities. While the utility of plastic bags remains undeniable, their environmental costs—ranging from resource depletion to marine pollution—prompt a reevaluation of their continued usage. In light of substantial evidence and successful international and national examples, this essay advocates for a nationwide ban on plastic bags, emphasizing the imperative to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable consumption.

Environmental Ramifications of Plastic Bag Production

One of the core reasons for banning plastic bags is the environmental devastation incurred during their manufacturing process. Plastic bags are primarily produced from polyethylene, derived from crude oil—a finite and non-renewable resource. According to Kinnelon Conserves.net, the production of five trillion plastic bags annually consumes approximately 12 million barrels of oil, amounting to 0.2% of global oil consumption (2018). This significant resource expenditure highlights the inefficient allocation of precious fossil fuels, which are also in increasing demand for energy, transportation, and other plastic products.

Furthermore, the extraction of oil for plastic production releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates global warming. As Kate Pickert notes, Americans use over 100 billion plastic bags annually, a figure that contributes sufficiently to air pollution and climate change (2014). The environmental impact of oil extraction extends beyond resource depletion, affecting air quality and contributing to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing the demand for plastic bags thus offers tangible benefits in conserving limited oil reserves and reducing carbon footprints, aligning with broader efforts to combat climate change and transition towards sustainable resource utilization.

Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste after Production

Once in circulation, plastic bags frequently escape proper waste management channels, ending up in oceans and landfills where they cause extensive harm. Marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable; plastic debris, including bags, are mistaken for jellyfish by marine organisms such as turtles, whales, seals, and fish, leading to ingestion and fatalities. A report in Nation magazine states that approximately 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with plastics constituting 60-80% of marine litter. If current trends persist, a staggering ratio of plastic to fish will exist in oceans by 2050 (Nation magazine).

Microplastics, tiny fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, are now found in salt, crabs, seaweed, and fish. Jennifer Barone explains that plastics do not biodegrade, lingering in marine environments for hundreds or thousands of years, creating long-term pollution and health risks to marine life and humans who consume seafood (2017). The accumulation of microplastics in the food chain signifies a knock-on effect for human health, raising concerns about toxins leaching from plastic particles into our diets.

These environmental consequences demonstrate that plastic bags, beyond their immediate utility, pose persistent threats to ecosystems, necessitating regulatory actions such as bans to curb plastic proliferation aptly.

Successes of City-Level Bans and Charges

Several cities worldwide exemplify the positive impact of reducing plastic bag consumption through charges or bans. For instance, England imposed a levy of 5 pence per bag in 2015, resulting in an 85% decrease in plastic bag usage and a 30% decline in plastic bags in local oceans. These figures underscore the effectiveness of financial disincentives in altering consumer behavior (Glyn Peterson, 2017). Similarly, in the United States, cities like Austin, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle have implemented complete bans, leading to measurable reductions in plastic pollution.

These policies not only cut down on plastic waste but also encourage the adoption of reusable alternatives, fostering sustainable consumer habits. The success stories from various municipalities provide compelling evidence that comprehensive bans yield environmental benefits, making a strong case for nationwide legislation.

Counterarguments and Rebuttal

Some opponents argue that plastic bags are convenient, reusable, and recyclable. They contend that banning plastic bags would inconvenience consumers who rely on their lightweight, free, and multi-use attributes for daily activities like packing lunches or carrying groceries. Katherine Mangu-Ward emphasizes that many American households have an abundance of plastic bags stored in drawers or closets, often discarded or forgotten (2015). However, these arguments overlook the fact that most plastic bags are discarded after minimal use and are rarely recycled effectively.

Though plastic bags are technically recyclable, recycling rates are exceedingly low; according to the U.S. EPA, only 4% of plastic bags were recycled in 2010. Additionally, many recycling facilities cannot process contaminated or used plastic bags, which often end up in landfills or pollute the environment. Therefore, the convenience argument does not outweigh environmental costs.

Alternatives like cloth bags and metal containers are viable substitutes that can be reused multiple times, reducing reliance on plastic. Encouraging consumers to adopt these alternatives and banning plastic bags altogether would significantly diminish environmental pollution, aligning with sustainability goals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the environmental damage caused by plastic bags—during their production and after their disposal—demands decisive action through a nationwide ban. Evidence from international experiences and municipal initiatives illustrates the effectiveness of such measures in reducing pollution and conserving resources. Although plastic bags offer convenience to consumers, their environmental costs are disproportionately high. Transitioning to reusable alternatives and implementing legal bans will foster healthier ecosystems and promote sustainable consumption patterns.

Consumers and policymakers must recognize that the true cost of plastic bags extends beyond their immediate utility—implicating broader environmental, health, and economic issues. Therefore, I advocate for the U.S. government to enact legislation that prohibits plastic bags nationwide, ensuring a cleaner, healthier planet for current and future generations.

As individuals, we can contribute by carrying reusable bags in our cars, homes, and daily routines, exemplifying responsible consumer behavior. Small actions, when collectively embraced, have the power to effect meaningful change, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in plastic pollution and safeguarding our oceans and wildlife for years to come.

References

• Barone, Jennifer. “An Ocean of Plastic.” Science World, vol. 73, no. 11, Apr. 2017, p. 8. EBSCOhost.
• Glyn Peterson, “By the Numbers.” Nation, vol. 305, no. 16, Dec. 2017, p. 4. EBSCOhost.
• Kinnelon Conserves. “Life Cycle of Products.” Accessed 6 October 2019.
• Mangu-Ward, Katherine. “Plastic Bags are Good for You.” Reason, vol. 47, no. 5, Oct. 2015, pp. 32-38. EBSCOhost.
• Pickert, Kate. “Paper, Plastic, Or Neither.” Time, vol. 183, no. 2, Jan. 2014, p. 11. EBSCOhost.
• “Amount of Plastic Bags Found in UK Waters Is Declining.” Waste360, Apr. 2018.
• “Plastic Bag Usage Decline in England due to Levy.” Glyn Peterson, 2017.
• “Cities Leading the Plastic Bag Ban Movement.” Time Magazine, 2014.
• “Environmental Impact of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2020.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Plastic Bag Recycling Statistics,” 2010.