Essay on Plastic Bag for Students and Children

500 words essay on plastic bag.

Plastic bags are one of the most commonly used things today. It makes our work easier and gives us a lot of conveniences. They have formed an essential part of our lives now. We use them almost every day for various purposes.

Essay on Plastic Bag

The usage is to the extent that we often get angry at the shopkeeper who refuses to offer us the plastic bag. It becomes daunting to carry your own bag every time. The shopkeeper’s refusal is due to the government ban on plastic bags. One often wonders why? Plastic bags make our lives easier but at what cost? They damage our earth and environment. It is high time we all stop using plastic bags.

Stop Using Plastic Bags

There are a number of reasons to say no to plastic bags. We must stop using them to better our environment and save it from degradation. There are various eco-friendly alternatives that can be used to stop the usage of plastic bags.

Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. As they are non-biodegradable, they take years to decompose. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. Plastic takes thousands of years to break down and decompose. It remains in the land which contributes to the rising problem of land pollution.

Similarly, it also causes water pollution . As people throw away the bags carelessly on the roads, in the drains and rivers, they enter the water bodies. They are carried away by winds in them and sometimes dumped into water deliberately. This plastic bag goes deep in the water and also hampers the aquatic life.

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Furthermore, plastic bags contaminate the soil causing hindrance to growth of plants. They seep into the soil after breaking down and remain there causing infertility in soils . The chemical hampers the soil and interferes with agriculture.

Most importantly, plastic causes the death of animals. The animals have no sense of what to eat and what to avoid. The stray animals gulp down plastic bags that get stuck in their bodies. In other words, this causes serious illnesses in their bodies. Sometimes, they choke to death after eating plastic bags.

How to Avoid Plastic Bags?

Though it may be difficult to avoid the plastic bags at first, it needs to be done for the greater good. Plastic is slowly and steadily eating away our planet and damaging it. The government has banned the use of plastic bags but still, people continue to use it despite the ban.

In order to implement these laws strictly, the government must take strict action against the ones using it. Moreover, each of us must come forward to practice this ban and make it successful. We must not buy plastic bags from shopkeepers. Instead, we must refuse to take our groceries in them when the shopkeeper offers us.

Furthermore, we must carry our own cloth or paper bags for shopping. Try to pack your food in steel or aluminum containers instead of plastic ones.

We must encourage children to avoid the use of plastic bags. If we see someone using it, we must call them out immediately. Never throw away the plastic on roads, as animals die after consuming it. We must come together to initiate a ban on plastic and make the world safer and healthier.

FAQs on Plastic Bag

Q.1 Why must we stop using plastic bags?

A.1 We must stop using plastic bags as they cause land pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution. They cause the death of several animals as well.

Q.2 How can one say no to plastic bags?

A.2 It is easy to quit using plastic bags. We must carry our own cloth or paper bags when shopping. Moreover, we must not accept plastic bags from shopkeepers which will discourage them from using them in the first place.

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Should Plastic Bags Be Banned? Essay

Should plastic bags be banned for free in all 50 states and instead charge a fee for each plastic bag used at the checkout? This will be the focused research question for this essay. In contemporary settings, the need to conserve the environment holds essence to a considerable degree. Plastic bags contribute to environmental pollution significantly. Thus, the establishment of policies that seek to curb the use of such bags is essential (Ritch et al. 170). In the United States, various states consider establishing and implementing strategies to curb the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores. Several cities impose charges of up to $10 on customers using plastic bags. However, the strategy has not been effective in discouraging the utilization of environmentally unfriendly materials (Clapp and Swanston 318). Currently, several states including Arizona, Missouri, Idaho, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Utah, have tabled laws that would see the ban of plastic bags use, primarily at retail store checkouts. However, there is a need for all 50 states to prohibit the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores.

The use of plastic bags has detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic bags cause harmful consequences to forests, lakes, rivers, and oceans. The harm undermines the survival of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Usually, plastic waste finds its way to water bodies where it soaks the toxins, which are transferred to aquatic life. Besides endangering the life of aquatic creatures, the toxins have the potential of finding their way to the top of the food chain, thereby posing adverse health implications on the human population. The problem of plastic bags threatens the sustainability of the 40 billion dollar ocean economy (Clapp and Swanston 320). Further, it is costly to finance the cleanup and recycling of plastic bags conducted in the entire United States. Therefore, the need to foster the sustainability of the natural environment calls for the free ban on plastic bags used for shopping in all the 50 states.

The research seeks to advocate legislation that would see the permanent ban on the use of plastic bags when shopping in retail and grocery outlets. The current proposal also aims at underlining the essence of engaging in practices that foster environmental sustainability in the United States. The inquiry seeks to uncover the insignificance of charging shoppers who use plastic bags at the checkout. The value of the environment overrides the collected revenues. Environmental degradation has long-term implications for generations to come. Further, the ban would relieve citizens from the financial burdens incurred from the activities involved in the cleanup and recycling of plastic waste.

The following research questions would be crucial in establishing a solution to the current problem induced by the use of plastic bags when shopping.

  • What are the environmentally adverse effects of using plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores in the United States?
  • Does the application of charges at the checkpoints to shoppers using plastic bags contribute to the reduction of pollution caused by such materials?
  • How would the ban on the usage of plastic bags when shopping at retail and grocery stores contribute to the sustainability of the environment in the United States?

The inquiry has considerable significance on the move towards the creation of a green environment. Thus, it would be integral in promoting a collaborative approach towards fostering the sustainability of the environment. Answering the research questions would underline the relevance of the inquiry.

The study would heighten awareness regarding the harmful outcomes of using plastic bags when shopping. Uncovering the threats posed by the plastic bags would emphasize the need to protect people, plants, and animals from harm caused by the waste that is usually difficult to dispose of efficiently. The inquiry is also significant since it would inspire the importance of sustainable development in the United States’ economy.

The study is also important since it would facilitate an evaluation of the various measures implemented to discourage the use of paper bags in the United States. Notably, the charges subjected to shoppers using the bags have realized insignificant successes in combating pollution. Moreover, the inquiry is relevant since it will facilitate the implementation of a policy that will be integral in tackling contamination in contemporary settings.

The inquiry holds the belief that plastic bags account for a significant degree of pollution of the water bodies. Therefore, failure to ban the use of plastic bags is believed to undermine the sustainability of the United States’ environment. However, the study assumes that paper bags have greater adverse effects on the environment compared to plastic bags.

The primary idea of this study is to uncover the relevance of banning the use of plastic bags in the United States. However, the study is prejudiced since it treats the plastic bags as if they are the principal cause of environmental degradation in the country. The environment faces degradation threats resulting from major pollutants such as industrial wastes and toxic gas emissions.

The undertaking of the inquiry would consider the integration of mixed research design. As such, the sample population would comprise of the key stakeholders who influence the use of plastic bags for shopping purposes. The research would use non-probability sampling methods to acquire the sample population. Stakeholders including policymakers, environmental conservation experts, and shoppers would constitute the sample population.

The preliminary research reveals that several states have established policies that ban the use of plastic bags as others are on the verge of making significant progress. However, there is a need to intensify the effectiveness of such policies in the entire country as a way to combat the problem of environmental degradation. In this regard, advocacy for the banning of plastic bags should take the center-stage in all the 50 states.

The prohibition would be a significant step towards the establishment of similar policies that seek to foster environmental conservation. The cost of cleaning up and recycling plastic bags poses a sizable burden on the taxpayer. Paper bags have an adverse implication on the environment in comparison to plastic bags. Nevertheless, winning small battles is what inspires stakeholders to pursue victory in wars. Conversations are underway to establish environmental policies that will prohibit the use of plastic bags across the United States. Environmentalists from the different states are coming together to push for comprehensive policies. The objective is to ensure that no state is left behind in the endeavor to conserve the environment.

The prohibition of the use of plastic bags in shopping at retail and grocery stores can go a long way towards conserving the environment instead of imposing charges on customers who disregard the essence of considering bio-degradable bags. The problem of the use of plastic bags is serious since it has the potential of harming the health of individuals who consume aquatic foods contaminated with toxins from the plastic bags wastes. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the viability of banning plastic bags.

Works Cited

Clapp, Jennifer, and Linda Swanston. “Doing Away with Plastic Shopping Bags: International Patterns of Norm Emergence and Policy Implementation.” Environmental Politics , vol. 18, no. 3, 2009, pp. 315-332.

Ritch, Elaine, et al. “Plastic Bag Politics: Modifying Consumer Behavior for Sustainable Development.” International Journal of Consumer Studies , vol. 33, no. 2, 2009, pp. 168-174.

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Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned

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Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 924 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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The environmental catastrophe of plastic pollution, the human health implications of plastic, the economic costs of plastic pollution, works cited.

  • Achilike, K. (2019). The Impact of Plastic Bag Ban on the Environment. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 4(2), 16-23.
  • Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Plastic Pollution. https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/plastic-pollution
  • Ghosh, P. (2020). Ban on Single-Use Plastics in India: A Critical Analysis. Asian Journal of Legal Studies, 4(1), 1-10.
  • Hopkins, S. (2018). Plastic Pollution and the Global Throwaway Culture: Environmental Injustices of Single-Use Plastics. Routledge.
  • Kaza, S., Yao, L., Bhada-Tata, P., & Van Woerden, F. (2018). What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. World Bank.
  • Naeem, N. (2018). Plastic Bags and Their Impact on the Environment. Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 4(1), 1-10.
  • National Geographic. (2021). Plastic Pollution. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plastic-pollution/
  • United Nations Environment Programme. (2018). Single-Use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability. https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/25496
  • Verghese, K., Lewis, H., Lockrey, S., & Williams, H. (2019). Packaging for Sustainability. Springer.
  • World Wildlife Fund. (2021). Plastic Pollution.

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Should Plastic Bags Be Banned Everywhere?

New York has a new law that bans most single-use plastic bags like the ones found in grocery stores, drugstores and boutiques. Do you think all communities should do the same?

write an essay on plastic bags

By Shannon Doyne

Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

When you buy something in a store, do you rely on the store’s plastic bags to get your items home? Or do you bring your own reusable bag — or just skip the bag entirely? For residents of New York state, the store-provided plastic bag won’t be an option any more as of March 1.

What do you think about New York’s new law? Is something similar in effect where you live? If not, do you wish it were? Why or why not? How concerned are you about the negative environmental effects of errant bags that end up in animal habitats and landfills?

In “ Get Ready, New York: The Plastic Bag Ban Is Starting ,” Anne Barnard writes about the law and its intended outcomes:

New York is banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags statewide on Sunday, a move with the ambitious goal of reducing the billions of discarded bags that stream annually into landfills, rivers and oceans. The law forbids most businesses from handing out the thin bags that are ubiquitous in supermarkets, bodegas and boutiques, making New York the third state to bar the bags after California, where a ban has already changed the way millions of people shop, and Oregon, where one took effect last month. If successful, the transition could spur a cultural sea change as significant as the end of smoking in bars, or the shift in attitudes ushered by seatbelt laws: Once optional, buckling up is now so automatic for most people that it happens almost unconsciously. New Yorkers currently use 23 billion plastic bags each year, state officials say, many of which end up as one of the most problematic forms of garbage. They blow across streets and become caught in trees. They harm birds and marine creatures. They clog sorting machines, making recycling them cumbersome.

The article goes on to describe successes in other places that have worked to decrease the use of plastic bags:

Measures in other countries and localities have significantly reduced plastic bag use, and a study in Washington found a 5-cent bag fee there had cut down on plastic pollution in waterways. The laws — including a de facto ban in Hawaii, where all counties forbid such bags — also aim to address climate change by reducing the planet-warming emissions from making the petroleum-based bags. California’s ban led to a 72 percent drop in plastic bag use. Although the law passed narrowly in a referendum — and opinions on it remain divided — implementation was relatively smooth.

Not all plastic bags are subject to the ban:

There are exceptions to the bag ban : Plastic can be used for takeout food; uncooked meat or fish and other products that could contaminate items; weighed produce; and prescription drugs. Newspaper bags, garment bags and bags sold in bulk, like trash or recycling bags, are also exempt. Paper bags are still allowed, and local governments can impose a 5-cent fee for each one a customer takes. The cities and counties that opt in to that fee will keep 2 cents per bag to spend on programs aimed at distributing reusable bags, and the remaining 3 cents will go to New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. Customers on food stamps and public assistance will be exempt from paper-bag fees.

The article notes that the new law has some opposition:

There, of course, are skeptics of the plastic ban, especially in New York City, where most people do not drive to supermarkets and shops. A bedrock feature of life in the city is running errands on the spur of the moment, or making impulse buys while walking or using public transportation. “This is going to be the worst thing to happen to this store,” said Sal Husain, who manages a C-Town grocery store in the Inwood section of Manhattan. “It’s OK to protect the environment, but there’s going to be a lot of problems with customers.” …. Across the street, Fatih Demir has been selling fruits for the past 15 years from a stand pitched below a white canopy. Most of his business comes from subway riders heading to and from the A train, he said. “Our customers keep asking, ‘What’s going to happen?’” he said. “The woman who sells next to me keeps asking, ‘What’s going to happen?’ People don’t have the time to prepare for this stuff. This is America, where people most value their time.”

However, other New Yorkers have embraced the ban:

In some ways, the transition has already begun, as eco-conscious New Yorkers have voluntarily adopted reusable bags and the stores cater to them. For some shoppers and stores, bags emblazoned with slogans and images have become a fashion statement, a method of virtue signaling and even an economic opportunity. That transition was on display on Thursday in Manhattan. Some residents could be seen trying to untangle bundles of loaded plastic bags spinning between their fingers. Others gripped reusable totes with both hands or pushed hand carts stuffed with both plastic and reusable bags. Sylvie Kande, 62, of Harlem, was carrying paper bags out of a Whole Foods Market in Midtown. She said the ban was a good idea. “It’s been done already in countries all around the world, and if it’s done there, it could be done here,” Ms. Kande said. “Everybody has to make sacrifices. And I know this is much easier for the bourgeoisie than it is for the working class, and it’s going to take some time. But we have to do it. This is an important transition.”

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

To what degree do you agree with Ms. Kande who stated that no longer using single-use plastic bags is an “important transition”?

Do you think the ban will motivate shoppers to bring their own bags to stores? Do you and your family tend to use reusable bags? What are the pros and cons of embracing this practice?

Some people think that the ban will be more of a hardship on working class people — such as those who walk instead of get around in cars or those who rely on public transportation? What do you think? In light of this, should the ban be selectively enforced? Why or why not?

The article mentions that some people like plastic bags because they reuse them at home for various purposes. Does this happen in your house? If so, how are these bags used?

You read about the types of single-use bags as well as purchases that are not subject to the ban. Do you think each of these exemptions is sensible? Explain. Do the exceptions reduce the ban’s effectiveness, in your opinion?

A related interactive notes that in New York City, plastic bags “have become part of the city’s visual landscape, the kind of everyday objects so pervasive that they seem invisible.” Look at the bag designs in the collection. Do you think plastic bags tell us something about the time and place in which they are or were used? If so, what?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained

Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Can it be cleaned up?

Conservation

Children Play among Plastic

While plastic pollution is a worldwide problem it is most obvious in less-wealthy African and Asian nations, like the Philippines. Here, children play among plastic waste on the shore of Manila Bay.

Photograph by Randy Olson

While plastic pollution is a worldwide problem it is most obvious in less-wealthy African and Asian nations, like the Philippines. Here, children play among plastic waste on the shore of Manila Bay.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is most visible in less-wealthy Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But wealthy nations, especially those with low recycling rates, also have trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations. How Did this Happen? Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II to the extent that life without plastics would be unimaginable today. Plastics revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and lessening pollution —and saved lives with helmets, incubators , and equipment for clean drinking water. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: Today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, are used for mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastics by the Numbers Some key facts:

  • Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
  • Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
  • Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
  • Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

How Plastics Move around the World Most of the plastic trash in the oceans, Earth’s last sink, flows from land. Trash is also carried to sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream . Once at sea, much of the plastic trash remains in coastal waters. But once caught up in ocean currents, it can be transported around the world. On Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Group isolated halfway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists found plastic items from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China. They were carried to the South Pacific by the South Pacific gyre , a circular ocean current. Microplastics Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than half a centimer (one-fifth of an inch) across. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough . Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces. Plastic microfibers (or the even smaller nanofibers), meanwhile, have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air. Harm to Wildlife Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics. Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by  abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation. Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death. Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to  reproductive systems , prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations. Stemming the Plastic Tide Once in the ocean, it is difficult—if not impossible—to retrieve plastic waste. Mechanical systems, such as Mr. Trash Wheel, a litter interceptor in Maryland’s Baltimore Harbor, can be effective at picking up large pieces of plastic, such as foam cups and food containers, from inland waters. But once plastics break down into microplastics and drift throughout the water column in the open ocean, they are virtually impossible to recover. The solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place, many scientists and conservationists—including the National Geographic Society—say. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics.

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Essay on Plastic Bag in English for Children and Students

write an essay on plastic bags

Table of Contents

Essay on Plastic Bags: Plastic Bags are used for various purposes. The most common use of these bags is to carry grocery items. These are easily available in the market and thus used extensively. However, disposing these bags is a big issue as these are non-biodegradable. They have become a major cause of land pollution. Plastic bags are harming our environment more than anything else. The use of these bags must be banned in order to save the environment from their harmful effects.

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Long and Short Essay on Plastic Bag in English

Here are essays on Plastic Bag of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams/school assignments. You can go with any Plastic Bag essay which you like the best for you:

Essay on Plastic Bag | Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned Essay | Why Plastic Bags are Harmful for Health

Short Essay on Plastic Bags – Essay 1 (200 words)

Plastic bags are commonly seen in the market. These bags are available in various sizes and come handy while shopping. These are light and inexpensive. This is the reason why these are being used extensively. However, it is important to understand that as convenient as these are to carry and use these are equally harmful for the environment.

Unlike the cloth and paper bags, the plastic bags are non-biodegradable. It is a challenge to dispose them off. Used plastic bags stay in the environment for years and contribute to land and water pollution. This is the reason why many countries have banned the use of these bags. These countries have replaced plastic bags with paper bags or reusable cloth bags.

The government of India has also banned the use of plastic bags in many states however the same has never been implemented properly. We must understand that these have been banned for our good. Every individual must take it has his responsibility to stop the use of these bags to make our environment cleaner.

The use of plastic bags must be banned throughout the world in order to make earth a better place to live. The task should not be very difficult as these can easily be replaced by bags made of other materials.

Essay on How Plastic Bag is Harmful to Health and Environment – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Plastic bags are preferred over other kinds of bags as these are economical, light and easy to carry. Though these are widely popular we cannot overlook the harmful effects of these bags on the environment as well as the health hazards they cause.

Plastic Bags Ruin the Environment

Plastic bags contain synthetic polymer – a substance that causes harm to the environment as it is non-biodegradable. It is hard to dispose of plastic bags due to this nature of plastic. The waste plastic bags lead to pollution. Since these are extremely light they are easily blown by the wind and scatter far and wide. They do not only pollute our towns and cities but even enter the oceans and become a threat for the marine life.

Plastic Bags are Hazardous for Health

Plastic bags cause health problems in human beings as well as animals. Waste food and vegetable and fruit peels are usually thrown away in plastic bags. Animals and birds often gulp pieces of plastic while having food. This causes various diseases and illnesses in them. Gulping plastic bags can even choke their throat and suffocate them to death.

Likewise, the marine creatures also tend to mistake the plastic pieces for food and eat them. This toxic substance causes various health problems in them. People who have sea food can get infected if they have fishes, lobsters or other marine creatures suffering from illness.

Besides, the pollution caused due to plastic bags is a cause of various illnesses.

Thus, plastic bags are ruining our beautiful environment and have become a threat to our health. It is high time we must stop the use of plastic bags. We must think about the bigger scenario rather than convenience of a few seconds. It is not that difficult to keep a cloth bag with us as we head to the market. This will go a long way in keeping our environment clean.

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Essay on Harmful Effects of Plastic Bags – Essay 3 (400 words)

Plastic bags are one of the most widely used bags when it comes to carrying grocery items. However, these are one of the worst types of bags to use as these cause a major harm to the environment. These light bags get torn into small pieces over the time but do not get disposed off because they are non-biodegradable. They remain in the environment for years and years and add to land, air and water pollution.

Harmful Effects of Plastic Bags on Plants

Trees and plants are an integral part of our environment. They are a source of the life-giving oxygen and one of the main reasons life is possible on our planet. Unfortunately, we human beings are ruining these beautiful creations of God. Among other things, it is the plastic bags that are causing immense harm to the flora.

Today, plastic bags have become a major cause of land pollution. The toxic chemicals produced by plastic contaminate the soil. This is hampering the growth of the plants. Since these are light and are carried by wind to different places, the agricultural land is also getting affected by them. They are deteriorating the soil quality making it less fertile. They damage the seeds sown in the ground and interfere with the growth of plants.

Harmful Effects of Plastic Bags on Animals and Humans

As the environment gets deteriorated and the growth of agricultural crops and other trees and plants gets hindered, life of animals and human beings is likely to get worse. The pollution caused due to plastic bags impacts the human beings and animals directly as well as indirectly.

Animals open eat plastic bags lying in the garbage. These bags can cause severe damage to their digestive tract and cause various illnesses. Birds, fishes and various marine creatures also eat the plastic content that floats in the air and water and incur various diseases. Humans who consume these creatures having illnesses are likely to incur serious illness.

Besides, animals and marine creatures even tend to gulp plastic bags as it is and are often suffocated to death. Large number of innocent animals die each year because of plastic bags.

Plastic bags are causing immense harm to our environment. The use of these bags must be banned by the government and as responsible citizens we must stop using these bags. In fact, the government should put a ban on the manufacturing of these bags so that these are not circulated in the market.

Essay on Say No to Plastic Bags – Essay 4 (500 words)

Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our goods. These have become an integral part of our modern day life. We use these almost every day and are often miffed when the shopkeepers tell us these are banned and that we need to either get our own bag or purchase a cloth bag from them to carry our goods. What we fail to understand is that the government has put a ban on these bags for our good.

Why Say NO to Plastic Bags?

Here is why we must say NO to plastic bags and switch to eco-friendly alternatives:

  • Major Cause of Land Pollution

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. These are not good for use mainly because they create a lot of waste. These use and throw bags are a challenge when it comes to disposing them off. They break into tiny pieces and remain in the environment for thousands of years and add to land pollution.

  • Adds to Water Pollution

Plastic bags are extremely light. People litter these bags carelessly. These are easily blown by the wind and enter the water bodies. Besides, most of our packaged food comes in plastic packing. People who go for picnics and camping carry such food and throw the waste plastic bags in the seas and rivers thereby adding to the water pollution.

  • Effect on Plant Growth

The chemicals present in plastic bags contaminate the soil. They make the soil infertile and hinder the growth of plants. These are thus interfering with agriculture which is the major occupation of our country.

  • Serious Illness in Animals

Animals are unable to distinguish between food and packing. They often gulp the whole thing from the garbage bins. Plastic bags get stuck in the digestive system of the animals. They even get stuck in the throat when gulped as it is and chokes them. Besides, tiny pieces of plastic that they eat from the garbage along with their food also gets accumulated in their body and eventually leads to serious illness in them.

  • Responsible for Climate Change

Plastic bags are mostly made of polypropylene which is produced from petroleum and natural gas. These are both non-renewable fossil fuels and their extraction creates greenhouse gases that are the leading cause of global warming.

How to Say NO to Plastic Bags?

Although plastic bags have become an integral part of our everyday life saying no to these should not be as difficult as it seems. The government has put a ban on the use of plastic bags in many states of India but people continue to use these as these are still available in the market.

The government must take strict measures to ensure these are not used. Besides, each one of us should take it as a responsibility to stop using these. Ban on plastic bags can only be successfully implemented if each one of us stops using these sincerely.

The harmful impact of using plastic bags has been stressed upon time and again. We are all aware about the harm they are causing to our environment. We must stop their use to make our environment safer to live.

Essay on Ban on Plastic bags to Save Environment – Essay 5 (600 words)

Plastic is a man-made substance. Unlike natural substances, it is difficult to dispose of plastic as it is non-biodegradable. Plastic bags are used extensively throughout the world and produce a large amount of waste. It is a waste that remains on earth for thousands of years and causes land, water and air pollution. This gives way to serious illnesses and degrades the overall environment.

Plastic Bags should be banned completely because it is a Threat to the Environment

Plastic bags when thrown after use prove to be a major threat to the environment. They pollute the soil and effect the growth of flora. They lead to infertile soil. Both wild plants as well as agricultural crops are affected by this. When the trees and plants suffer then the entire environment is impacted negatively.

Birds and animals mistake plastic for food and eat it. This causes serious illness in them. Large number of animals and marine creatures die each year because of consuming plastic bags. Plastic bags contribute majorly in land and water pollution. These are degrading our environment by the day.

Besides, petroleum is used in the production of plastic. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource and is required for various other purposes as well. Several things that we cannot imagine our lives without run on petroleum. So, we must save this resource for their production rather than wasting it on producing plastic which is ruining our environment.

Ban on Plastic to Save Environment

  • Government Must Take Strict Measures

Plastic bags have been banned in many countries around the world. The government of India has also banned the use of plastic bags in many states. However, the same has not been implemented properly. These are still used extensively throughout the market. It is essential for the government to take strict measures to ensure that the usage of these bags is stopped. Here are some suggestions to ensure strict and smooth implementation of ban on plastic bags:

  • The production of plastic bags must be stopped.
  • The shopkeepers must be fined for circulating plastic bags. Those seen carrying plastic bags must also be fined.
  • Plastic bags already available in the market must be made chargeable.
  • People Must Act Mature

It is high time that the people of our country should understand that plastic bags have been banned for our own good. These have been banned so as to make the environment cleaners and healthier to live. They must thus act maturely and contribute their bit by saying no to plastic bags.

  • Alternatives to Plastic Bags

We have grown used to using plastic bags but is it that difficult to replace these and stop their use? The answer is No! There are many alternatives to the plastic bags.

Plastic bags are mainly used by shoppers to carry grocery items and other goods. It is a good idea to carry a jute bag or a cloth bag whenever we head to the market. Big shopping bags made of clothes are available in the market. We can buy one and reuse it several times. These bags are much better than the plastic bags as they have more capacity. We can keep a good number of things in a big cloth bag. It is much better than holding several small plastic bags. Cloth bags are easier to carry and are also quite firm.

You can also use paper bags instead of plastic bags. Many stores have started providing paper bags as an alternative to the plastic bags.

We humans have caused immense harm to our planet earth. We have degraded the environment and are continuing to do so every day. A switch from plastic bag to cloth bag can be our little effort to reduce pollution and save our environment.

Related Information:

  • Essay on Environment
  • Why Plastic Bags should be Banned
  • Why Plastic Bags are Harmful for Health
  • Speech on Plastic Pollution
  • Speech on Beat Plastic Pollution

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Plastic Pollution Essay

500+ words essay on plastic pollution.

Plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives. We begin our day using mugs and buckets made of plastic for bathing. Further, as we trace back our activities throughout the day, we use plastic in the form of water bottles, combs, food packaging, milk pouches, straws, disposable cutlery, carry bags, gift wrappers, toys etc. The wide use of plastic has resulted in a large amount of waste generated. Plastic has been so much used that plastic pollution has become one of the environmental problems that the world is facing today. It has impacted the environment, our health and well-being. We have all contributed to this problem, and now it’s our responsibility to work towards it to reduce and ultimately End Plastic Pollution. This essay on plastic pollution will help students to understand the harmful effects of using plastic and how it is affecting our environment. So, students must go through it and then try to write their own essays on this topic. They can also practise CBSE essays on different topics as well.

Plastic Pollution

The accumulation of plastic products in huge amounts in the Earth’s environment is called plastic pollution. It adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans, which has become a major concern. In 2008, our global plastic consumption worldwide was estimated at 260 million tons. Plastic is versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture-resistant, strong, and relatively inexpensive, because of which it is excessively used by everyone. It has replaced and displaced many other materials, such as wood, paper, stone, leather, metal, glass and ceramic. Plastics have come to clutter almost every landscape. In the modern world, plastics can be found in components ranging from stationery items to spaceships. Therefore, the over-consumption of plastic goods, discarding, littering, use and throwing culture has resulted in plastic waste generation and thus creating plastic pollution.

Every day, thousands of tons of pollutants are discarded into the air by natural events and human actions. Far more damaging are the substances discharged into the atmosphere by human actions. Most plastics are highly resistant to the natural processes of degradation. As a result, it takes a longer period of time to degrade the plastic. It has resulted in the enormous presence of plastic pollution in the environment and, at the same time, adversely affected human health. It is estimated that plastic waste constitutes approximately 10% of the total municipal waste worldwide and that 80% of all plastic found in the world’s oceans originates from land-based sources.

How to Manage Plastic Pollution?

To save the environment from plastic waste, we should minimise and ultimately end the use of plastic. Each one of us has to learn the following 4 R’s:

  • Refuse – Say no to plastic, particularly single-use plastic, as much as possible.
  • Reduce – Limit or reduce the use of plastic in daily life.
  • Reuse – Reuse plastic products as much as possible before disposing of them.
  • Recycle – Plastic products should be recycled into other usable products. This reduces the demand for manufacturing raw plastic required to make various plastic products.

Apart from that, we should educate other people around us. We should create awareness campaigns in public places and help people know about plastic pollution and its harmful effects. We should stop this culture of using and throwing and start reusing things. When everyone takes a pledge to minimise the use of plastic, then we will be able to manage plastic pollution.

Students must have found this Essay on Plastic Pollution helpful for improving their writing section. They can also access more study material related to CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive exams, by visiting the BYJU’S website.

Frequently asked Questions on Plastic pollution Essay

How does plastic pollution affect the environment.

Excessive usage of plastic products has caused the accumulation of this plastic on Earth. Plastic is non-biodegradable and does not naturally degrade or break down thus these plastics are flooded over the Earth.

How to reduce plastic usage?

Replacement of plastic items with jute, cotton and other biodegradable items needs to come into practice more.

What are the simple steps to avoid plastic overuse?

The simple 3 R method can be followed: “Reduce, reuse and recycle”.

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Essay on Plastic Bag : Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages

February 27, 2018 by Manasi Shewale Leave a Comment

Table of Contents

What is a Plastic Bag?

Plastic bags can be said the most abundantly used substance in the whole world.

In our day to day life, we use plastic bags to carry so many things for example, we use plastic bags for packaging fruits, vegetables, clothes, books, etc.

Every other object is carried using a plastic bag or any packaging substance made of plastic.

The invention of a plastic bag is a boon to the human beings and has made us dependent on it as there is no other alternative to the use of plastic bag.

The first proper plastic bag was invented or put forth by “Thulin” in around 1960.

The most commonly used plastic bag is a Polythene. It is basically a synthetic product that is it was made in the laboratory.

It was basically made to replace the traditional paper bags which used to tear under high pressure, etc.

Polythene is a polymer that is a very complex compound which formed due to a long chain of monomers that is the primary compound.

For example, the monomer ethylene is used for the production of the polythene polymer.

This ethylene molecule will bind to several other ethylene molecules in a single long chain or a branched long chain and form the complex polymer called Polythene or also known as polyethylene.

There are different types of polythene like High Density Polythene (HDPE), Low Density Polythene (LDPE), etc. but the most commonly used is Polythene and is seen as our daily plastic bags.

Uses of Plastic Bag

Plastic has many day to day uses, and they have completely replaced the traditional products which involved the use of paper, metal and some other substances.

When these plastic bags were introduced in the market they attracted the people mostly because they were cheap i.e. very inexpensive and very light in weight.

They have many medicinal uses also as they prevent any and all types of contamination and also prevents leakage of any chemical.

They are used for packaging materials ranging from edible chips to big metallic containers.

Plastic is also used to make plastic boxes or containers to store food and water. Plastic is used to cover any object or substance from dust particle that is to avoid the dust particles from settling on any object.

Other than the HDPE and LDPE type of polythene, there are other types of polythene specifically designed for its use in the electrical or metallic substances, etc.

For example, the big pipes which are use for transportation of water under the surface of earth are also made of polythene (HDPE is used).

Such is the use of plastic that in today’s date we find more amount of plastic in our environment than many trees or plants.

The uses of plastic bags are very great but the disadvantages or limitations of plastic bags are many.

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable that is does not decompose naturally and is very stable. It will stay or accumulate in the place where it was dumped. Therefore, it has such disastrous effects.

Plastic is made from ethylene which is renewable or organic compound which has an importance in plant biology.

But it’s polymer is a non-biodegradable compound and no such health-related importance to humans as well as plants.

Disadvantages of Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have a wide range of advantages but the list of disadvantages that it has is somewhat never ending. This is due to the sole fact that plastic is non-biodegradable.

If you dump plastic in a small portion of soil then even a certain period of time, the plastic would remain unchanged in the soil.

This means that it does not get absorbed into the soil or also decompose in the presence of the microorganisms which are present in the soil.

This leads to accumulation of plastic in the environment thus, causing plastic pollution.

We use plastic bags then after their use is over we put it in the dust bin. This plastic waste is not treated and therefore, dumped into the forest, oceans or also buried into the soil without any treatment.

This just leads to accumulation of the plastic.

The garbage bag itself is made of plastic which again contributes to plastic pollution.

Also, plastic takes more than 1000 years to degrade that also by breaking down into smaller toxic substances and not into ethylene which is biologically useful.

The plastic waste which is dumped into the oceans affects the aquatic life at a very large scale. The fishes living in the ocean cannot breathe as low-density plastic floats on water.

This floating of the plastic might block or would not allow the fishes to breathe (i.e. access to oxygen).

Even if they come to the surface a foreign substance like plastic is a hindrance in their ecological cycle as they misunderstand plastic to being food (prey fishes like jellyfish) and consume it.

It is commonly heard that sea turtles ingest such plastic bags or balloons which ultimately lead to their death.

Therefore, plastic pollution is also considered as a threat to the aquatic life and also a possible reason in reduction of the number of certain species of turtles.

Plastic is also dumped or buried in the soil.  As we learnt above, that plastic degrades very slowly that is it takes 1000 of years to degrade.

But the degradation is also too poisonous to the environment as plastic breaks down into toxic components which are definitely deadly to the plants growing in that soil.

The consumption of plastic by the animals can choke them and cause a painful death. Also, the accumulation of plastic in soil degrades its nutritional quality.

This also affects the plants and trees which grow in the soil.

Most of the times it is considered that burning of plastic can decompose it but this is not the case.

The burning of plastic bags causes it to melt and generate harmful toxins in gaseous forms which if inhaled can cause suffocation or also accumulation of these toxins in the body.

If we check the Statistical data about the use of plastic only in India, then also it is more than 15 thousand tons. We should also note that India contributes only 11% of the whole world’s plastic waste.

This explains that even if India’s plastic consumption is not more still we see plastic pollution and presence of plastic in our surrounding.

Due to the increasing knowledge of the threat by plastic to the environment, it is now banned in most of the countries and also an alternative for plastic is being developed.

The techniques which have been already developed for plastic degradation are expensive and can degrade only a certain amount of plastic at a time, but we have trillions of plastic bags to be decomposed.

This has become a burning issue as plastic will bring death to the life on earth if not curbed now itself.

Therefore, not just forcefully banning plastic bags but also willingly avoiding the use of plastic and find an alternative to store and carry the products should be done.

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About Manasi Shewale

Manasi Shewale loves to read novels and review them inturn. She is an avid reader of various topics of scientific interest in Chemistry and Biology.

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Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment - IELTS Band 9 Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment.

What damage does plastic do to the environment?

What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.

You should write at least 250 words.

Task 2  Band 9 Essay Sample Answer (Plastic Bags, Plastic Bottles and Plastic Packaging)

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Sample Essay 1

The pervasive use of plastic, from bags and bottles to packaging, presents a formidable challenge to environmental sustainability. This ubiquity is detrimental due to its non-biodegradable nature, leading to significant pollution and harm to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This essay posits that mitigating plastic's environmental impact requires concerted efforts from both governments and individuals, focusing on enhanced recycling initiatives and fostering a cultural shift towards sustainable consumption.

Governments play a pivotal role in addressing the plastic crisis through policy and infrastructure. By instituting stringent regulations on plastic production and use, including bans on single-use plastics, authorities can significantly reduce plastic waste. For instance, Rwanda's ban on plastic bags has led to notable environmental improvements, underscoring the efficacy of such measures. Moreover, investing in recycling infrastructure and innovation can transform plastic waste management. Advanced recycling technologies not only reduce landfill reliance but also create a circular economy for plastics, minimizing the need for new production. Encouragingly, initiatives like Norway's plastic bottle recycling program, boasting over a 95% recycling rate, exemplify the potential of government-led solutions.

Individual actions are equally crucial in combating plastic pollution. Conscious consumer choices, such as opting for reusable alternatives to plastic bags, bottles, and packaging, can significantly curtail personal plastic footprint. Furthermore, participating in and promoting recycling can enhance the effectiveness of waste management systems. Public awareness campaigns and educational programs can amplify these efforts, fostering a culture of sustainability. Notably, grassroots movements and community-led beach clean-ups have demonstrated the power of collective action in environmental preservation.

In conclusion, the plastic pollution crisis necessitates a dual approach, with governments and individuals both playing essential roles. Through regulatory measures, investment in recycling infrastructure, and a shift towards sustainable consumption practices, the detrimental impacts of plastic on the environment can be significantly mitigated. It is through this synergistic effort that we can aspire to a cleaner, more sustainable future for our planet.

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Sample Essay 2

It is argued that the ecology is negatively impacted by plastic bottles, bags, and packaging. Both governmental and individual initiatives can stop additional devastation by banning the use of plastic, adopting renewable resources, and raising public awareness.

Plastics are not biodegradable, and they are made from crude oil which emits significant amounts of pollution. Specially, our sea creatures are becoming the worst victims because most of the people do not deign to dispose unwanted plastic goods properly. It affects all organisms in the food chain from tiny species like plankton to giant whales. The Natural Environment website estimates that approximately 100,000 sea turtles and other marine animals die every year because they get strangled in plastic items. In addition, most of the plastic bags and bottles are thrown into rivers and oceans, causing a significant habitat catastrophe, and leading up to a severe extinction of sea animals.

However, governments can curb these hazardous activities by imposing strict environment law and promoting the environment friendly materials that can be easily recycled and used in place of plastics. As a deterrence, the government could impose extra tax on plastic items and compel people to pay higher for plastic products. Also, organising environmental awareness campaigns could be an effective approach to disseminate the essential information. People from individual level can also make some big impact in deterring plastics by cutting the use of unnecessary packages and shifting to try out scoop shops, loose leaf tea, homemade food cooked from raw materials etc.

To conclude, humans are responsible for environmental damage, impacting the metabolism and killing the marine species, regardless of their sizes. However, proper law enforcement, promotional campaigns to raise public awareness, and lifestyle changes at individual levels could be effective measures to address this issue.

Sample Essay 3

All the plastic materials, such as bags, bottles and packaging, are harmful for the environments. Those materials cause the acute damage to ocean ecology and wildlife. These problems can be tackled by not only imposing the levy or tax refund from government agency but also the self-awareness from consumers.

First and foremost, plastic items have a detrimental impact on the ecology. In other words, because plastics cannot decompose, they pollute both the ocean ecosystem and the food chain of wild animals. For instance, plastic garbage that accumulates on top of coral reefs has a significant negative influence on the famed Great Barrier Reef, which is located on Australia's north-eastern coast. This expulsion of symbiotic algae from the reefs leads to perpetual bleaching. Another appalling example is the possibility of plastic garbage choking wild creatures. Animals can spread toxic wastes via food chains despite the fact that they do not perish from improper feeding.

However, the government can tackle these problems effectively through tax subsidies for using paper products, imposing extra levy on plastics or abolishing one-time use bags. As per policy in the U.K., for instance, the plastic factory would require paying carbon tax when they produce the plastic related products. In addition, the consumers should have self-consciousness on protecting the environment as their responsibilities. They can bring their own collapsible cups instead of purchasing bottles from supermarkets and adopt the reusable bags while doing grocery shopping. Therefore, the government agency can implement the policy and individuals can apply for the reuse products to reduce the plastic substances.

To sum up, plastics are likely to be detrimental to the nature environments like ocean and wildlife. The government and individuals can work together to implement multiple methods to reduce the use of the plastic products.

Sample Essay 4

There are a number of causes of pollution to our environment, for instance, using plenty of plastic materials such as plastic bags for grocery shopping, plastic cups from coffee shops and individual items packed with plastics. But certain measures could be taken to alleviate this problem.

There are several reasons why plastic harms our planet. The main one is that plastic sticks around in the environment for ages, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins, since our plastic waste has invaded the highest mountains and deepest oceans. No one knows how long it will take to disappear, but it’s at least hundreds of years. In addition, almost all plastics are made from chemicals that come from the production of planet-warming fuels such as gas and oil. It means that our reliance on plastic prolongs our demand of these dirty fuels.

Various possible courses of action could be taken by both governments and people in order to tackle the above. In the first place, governments could provide people proper education about plastic recycling. By educating the general population about recycling symbols, for example, where to locate them on packages, which ones are recyclable will help people make better choices about the plastic they use. The easiest and most direct way that individuals can get started is by reducing use of single-use plastics. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-away containers and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded. To avoid using these, people can purchase and carry with them reusable versions of those products, including bring own reusable bags for grocery shopping and coffee cups to a coffee shop.

In conclusion, various factors have led to problems related to damaging to the environment, but this situation could be addressed by offering free education of plastic recycling by governments and replacing single use plastics to reusable items by individuals. Given this situation, it is recommended that steps should be taken immediately in order to ensure that save our planet where we and the wildlife live on.

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  • Plastic Ban Essay

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Essay on Plastic Ban

Plastic bags are a very big threat to the environment. They are mostly made of organic polymers which are nothing but long chains of carbon atoms. These polymers are very stable chemically and hence, cannot be broken down by environmental factors easily. Plastic bags are widely used as they are important industrially and are also cheap. However, years of using plastics are now showing their effects on the environment. The piles of non-degradable waste that have been created so far are polluting the air, water, soil, and every other component of nature. It is high time that we become aware of this menace and contribute towards banning plastic globally. Only then, we will be able to save our earth from choking to death.

Plastic: a Menace to the Environment

To judge the issue, we must first look into the various problems that arise out of using plastic bags. The problems with using plastic bags are as follows:

They are Non-Biodegradable

Plastic bags are made up of elements that are extremely hard to be degraded by microbes in the environment. They take hundreds of years to be completely decomposed, which essentially means that almost all of the plastic ever made still exists in the environment causing pollution! Plastic bags are a major source of pollution of land and water presently across the world.

Effect of Plastic on Human Health

Due to the excessive use of plastics, there are several ways in which plastic finds its way into our food chain. Accumulation of nano plastics over a long period of time can cause organ failure, intoxication and respiratory and gastrointestinal distress. The burning of plastics also produces harmful smoke that can cause poisoning in humans.

Harmful for Animals

Animals, both terrestrial and aquatic, consume a lot of plastic wastes unknowingly. Consuming large chunks of plastic often causes blockage in their respiratory tract. This may result in respiratory failure due to choking. After consuming a plastic bag, an animal is not able to digest it and it stays inside its intestine causing complications and ultimately, untimely death. Marine animals are often found to be dead after they become entangled with plastic wastes in the sea which leave them incapable of breathing.

Clogged Sewage

Another major problem with plastic bags is that it accumulates in waterways and clog drains and sewages. This can result in overflowing drains which can then breed various vectors of diseases. Afterwards, from this accumulation of plastic bags oxygen supply to the water is reduced and aquatic animals die due to the lack of oxygen as well.

For all the aforementioned reasons, we must choose to ban the use of plastic bags altogether. Previously, regional governments have tried to levy taxes on plastic use but it has not been effective. If we do not stop using plastic bags the ill effects of the same will multiply in the future and it will be too late to make further changes. However, before banning plastics, we must make sure that we have access to suitable replacements so that after the ban people do not have to face inconvenience. It is important to save our planet for it is the only place we can call our home and we must take every necessary action to do that at the earliest.

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FAQs on Plastic Ban Essay

1. How to download the Essay on Plastic Ban from the Vedantu Website?

The Vedantu website provides a download of the Essay on Plastic Ban, which is accurate and well-structured. Vedantu's official website provides the Essay in PDF version which is available for download for free of cost. Students are advised to download the Essay on Plastic Ban from the Vedantu website to get an idea of the word limit, sentence construction and basic understanding of what a good essay consists of. Vedantu essay is concise and apt for school going students. It uses simple language, perfect for students with limited vocabulary. Following the Vedantu essay enables students to be sufficiently prepared for any essay topics and guarantees that students will score good marks. 

2. Why is plastic bad for the environment?

Nonrenewable resources such as coal, natural gas, and crude oil are used to make plastics. Because plastic bags take a long time to disintegrate, they have a substantial environmental impact. If toxic compounds are allowed to deteriorate, there is concern that they will leak into the environment. Rather than degrading completely, plastic dissolves into smaller chunks and microscopic particles known as microplastics. Microplastics regularly end up in bodies of water, endangering animals. Furthermore, dangerous chemicals are released into the soil when plastic bags degrade in the sun, and harmful substances are released into the air when plastic bags are burnt, resulting in air pollution. All of these reasons make plastic one of the most harmful materials on the earth for all of these reasons.

3. Is writing an essay hard?

Essay writing is a difficult task that needs a great deal of study, time, and focus. It's also an assignment that you can divide down into manageable chunks such as introduction, main content and conclusion. Breaking down and focusing on each individually makes essay writing more pleasant. It's natural for students to be concerned about writing an essay. It's one of the most difficult tasks to do, especially for people who aren't confident in their writing abilities. While writing a decent essay is difficult, the secret to being proficient at it is reading a lot of books, conducting extensive research on essential topics, and practicing essay writing diligently.

4. Who prepares the Essay for Vedantu?

The Essay on Plastic Ban designed for the Vedantu is created by a group of experts and experienced teachers. The panel of experts have created the essay after analyzing important essay topics that have been repeatedly asked in various examinations. The Essays that are provided by Vedantu are not only well-structured but also accurate and concise. They are aptly suited for young students with limited vocabulary. For best results, the students are advised to go through multiple essays and practice the topics on their own to inculcate the habits of time management and speed.

5. What will be the impact on the environment if we ban plastic?

Plastic bans can undoubtedly aid in the conservation of non-renewable resources that, once gone, may not be recovered. Plastic use has two significant negative consequences: it emits carbon dioxide, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, and it increases rubbish collecting in landfills and seas. Bans should be implemented since they are successful in eliminating large amounts of plastic trash. Plastic can be eliminated; but, it will need advances in engineering and applied science, and the capability to do so currently exists. With each passing year, humanity's reliance on plastic gets greater.

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Essay on Plastic Pollution for Students in English [500+ Words]

August 29, 2021 by Sandeep

Plastic Pollution Essay: On average, around 8 million metric tons of plastic garbage and waste are collected in the oceans every year. The economically low plastics prices have increased their usage rate, but this material is highly non-biodegradable, causing substantial environmental damage. It largely affects human lives, wildlife, and marine animals. It pollutes land and water resources. Many governments have strictly implemented the plastic ban in their nations. Below we have provided an essay on plastic pollution suitable for school students of classes 1 to 12.

Essay on Plastic Pollution 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Plastic Pollution Essay in English, suitable for classes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. This detailed essay of 150-500 words is greatly helpful for all school students to perform well in essay writing competitions.

Plastic pollution is a collection of plastic waste like plastic bottles, bags, etc., that adversely affects the environment. Nowadays, plastic is everywhere, and the amount of plastic we generate daily by using it for our comfort is enhancing rapidly. No one realizes how harmful it is. It is essential to understand how plastic harms nature, human beings, and other creatures on earth. We use plastic in various ways. It is used in building polythene bags, utensils, and many other things. Slowly it gets contaminated and leads to hazardous effects.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Plastics cannot be decomposed because of its properties. It is cheap and has endless uses. As a result, it is contaminated in the environment. Plastic is everywhere, milk cartons, water bottles, food wrappers, and many products are made up of plastics. Every time these items are thrown away, and they create harmful effects on the environment. As plastic is not expensive, it is one of the most easily available and overused items. When disposed of, it does not get decompose easily and pollutes our environment.

When small organisms eat plastic, they become poisoned. This poisons large animals who eat these tiny animals for food. With each step further along the food chain, this problem increases. Plastic is also present in the fish that many people eat every day. Many people eat fish, so fishing is an important activity in many parts of the worlds. Fishing is done by using finishing nets, and they spend a long time in the water, leaking toxins, sometimes they are left to remain wherever they fall.

This kills and harms aquatic living beings. Plastic carried by water flows to the sea and oceans, thus creating water pollution. It is impossible to break down plastics. Burning plastic is toxic, which releases toxic gases and harms the atmosphere. It is a fact that 40% of plastic is used only once. Several items, such as bags, bottles, and food packaging, are used only once and are left behind as litter. It is one of the biggest causes of plastic pollution.

Harmful Effects of Plastics

Plastic is harmful to plants, animals, and people. Improper disposal of plastics causes several problems. Some of them are:

  • Throwing of plastics in open space creates unhealthy conditions, as it develops insects and mosquitoes that cause harmful diseases.
  • Plastics stays in the soil for years and affects soil fertility and its quality.
  • Plastic leftovers enter the drainage system and block the drains, which cause water-logging.
  • The plastic manufacturing industry throws waste directly into the water bodies, thus affecting water.
  • Burning of plastic leads to the release of poisonous chemicals. Thus leading to air pollution.
  • Natural disasters such as floods are also one of the causes of plastic pollution.
  • Plastic contains some chemicals that can affect the growth of crops by making it difficult for the process of photosynthesis to take place in agricultural fields.

Steps taken by Indian Government to decrease Plastic Pollution

The Government has announced several rules to stop the use of single-use plastics to reduce plastic pollution. These rules are applied in all states. Several rules announced by the government are-

  • The Government has banned the use of carry bags made up of plastics and has suggested using bags made up of clothes or recycled plastic.
  • The Government has banned all single-use plastics and the import of solid plastic waste. All states were prohibited from manufacturing single-use plastic products.
  • The plastic of minimal diameter that is not soluble in water is banned.
  • The Government has decided to use plastic waste for the construction of roads. It was stated that roads constructed using discarded waste plastics are durable against extreme weather conditions.
  • In many states, garbage cafe is opened, where food to the poor is provided free in exchange for plastic waste. The ‘Meal for Plastic’ initiative has gained success and is rolled out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme under the state government’s Aahar Scheme.

Related Essays

  • Air Pollution Essay
  • Water Pollution Essay
  • Essay on Pollution Crisis in Urban Areas

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Essay on Plastic Bags

Students are often asked to write an essay on Plastic Bags in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Plastic Bags

The importance of plastic bags.

Plastic bags are light, cheap, and easy to store. They are found in every store because they are convenient for carrying items. They are waterproof and can hold many things.

The Downside of Plastic Bags

However, plastic bags cause environmental problems. They do not decompose quickly, leading to pollution. Animals can eat them, which harms their health.

Alternatives to Plastic Bags

We can use reusable bags made of cloth or jute. These are eco-friendly and can be used many times.

While plastic bags are handy, they harm our environment. We should use alternatives for a healthier planet.

Also check:

  • Speech on Plastic Bags

250 Words Essay on Plastic Bags

Introduction.

Plastic bags, ubiquitous in our daily lives, are a paradox of utility and environmental hazard. They are lightweight, cheap, and waterproof, making them an essential tool for carrying goods. However, the environmental impact they cause is severe, thus necessitating a critical examination of their use.

The Utility of Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have become indispensable due to their convenience. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and can be easily produced on a large scale. Moreover, their waterproof nature ensures the safe transportation of goods, even in adverse weather conditions. Thus, the utility of plastic bags is undeniable.

Environmental Impact

Despite their convenience, plastic bags pose a significant threat to the environment. They are non-biodegradable, meaning they do not decompose naturally. Instead, they break into smaller, toxic particles known as microplastics, contaminating soil and water bodies. They are also a major contributor to landfill waste and can harm wildlife when improperly disposed of.

Alternatives and Solutions

Addressing the plastic bag problem requires a two-pronged approach. Firstly, promoting alternatives such as reusable bags, biodegradable plastics, or materials like jute and cloth. Secondly, implementing strict regulations on plastic bag production and use, including levies or outright bans.

The plastic bag conundrum is a stark reminder of the trade-offs between convenience and environmental responsibility. While their utility is significant, the environmental impact they cause is severe. As responsible citizens, we must strive for sustainable alternatives and advocate for policies that mitigate the harmful effects of plastic bags.

500 Words Essay on Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have become an integral part of our everyday lives, serving a variety of purposes, from carrying groceries to packaging goods. Their convenience and affordability have made them a ubiquitous presence in our consumer society. However, the environmental impact of their widespread use has emerged as a major concern.

The Rise of Plastic Bags

The advent of plastic bags in the mid-20th century revolutionized the packaging industry. They were lighter, cheaper, and more durable than paper or cloth bags. Additionally, their water-resistant properties made them more versatile. However, this convenience came with a cost. Plastic bags are typically made from non-renewable resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. This makes their production energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The environmental impact of plastic bags is profound. They take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to long-lasting pollution. In landfills, they slowly release toxic chemicals into the soil. In oceans, they pose a threat to marine life, often mistaken for food by animals, causing suffocation and death. Furthermore, plastic bags contribute to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of Texas.

Health Impact

The health implications of plastic bags are also significant. The chemicals used in their production, such as phthalates, have been linked to health issues including cancer, reproductive problems, and immune system impairments. Moreover, when plastic bags are improperly disposed of, they can become breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects and rodents.

There are several alternatives to plastic bags, such as reusable bags made of cloth or other sustainable materials. Many countries and cities have implemented bans or taxes on plastic bags, encouraging consumers to switch to these alternatives. Recycling is another potential solution, although the rate of plastic bag recycling is currently very low.

Innovation also plays a key role in addressing this issue. Biodegradable plastic bags, made from plant-based materials, are a promising development. However, they require specific conditions to decompose and are more expensive to produce.

While plastic bags have made our lives convenient in many ways, their environmental and health impacts cannot be ignored. It is imperative to shift towards sustainable alternatives and implement policies that discourage their use. As consumers, we also have the responsibility to make conscious choices and reduce our reliance on plastic bags. Only through collective action can we mitigate the harm caused by these seemingly innocuous objects.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in Plastic Waste Management
  • Essay on Harmful Effects of Plastic Bags
  • Essay on Plastic Ban

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Essay on Plastic Pollution in English ( 150, 300 & 500 Words )

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By Vijay Gupta

Updated on: May 10, 2023

Essay on plastic pollution

If you are looking for an essay on plastic pollution, you have come to the right place. Here, I’ve written several different essays on this topic.

It’s a very important topic for different types of examinations whether they are academic or competitive. You must prepare it.

So, without wasting your valuable time, let’s start the article.

See the essay on the importance of sports and games .

Table of Contents

Essay on Plastic Pollution in English ( 150, 300 & 500 Words )

Essay on plastic pollution in english ( 500 words ), 1. introduction.

Plastic is such a substance that is being used everywhere. Today, nothing is exempt from this.

As much as it has benefited us through bags, furniture, utensils, bottles, boxes, and other accessories, it has also harmed our environment. Its waste has caused a lot of damage to the environment. Its use increased as time passed.

Earlier, when plastic was not used much, it didn’t pose much threat to our environment, but since its use has started making various things, its waste is increasing rapidly, which has become very difficult to dispose of.

Actually, plastic has brought a new type of pollution to the earth. If it’s not taken care of in time, it can become a serious problem in the coming time.

That’s why we should start our efforts to solve it.

2. Effects of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution has had a wide impact on water, land, and all living beings. The faster the use of plastic has increased, the faster its waste too.

It has badly affected all living beings. Due to the accumulation of its waste on the banks of rivers, ponds, and other water sources, we are getting health-related problems due to drinking such water.

However we purify water in many ways, yet the effect of plastic remains somewhere.

In addition, plastic waste has affected the growth of trees and plants along with weakening the soil fertility as it contains a mixture of toxic substances. That’s why we should pay attention to it and at the same time reduce it.

3. How to stop plastic pollution?

Although the outbreak of plastic pollution is increasing day by day, if we try to stop it, we can do so by adopting some methods which can prove to be very helpful for us.

Whenever we go to the market, we should avoid plastic bags, instead, we should use bags made of paper, cloth, and leather. At the same time, we should run a campaign at our level not to use plastic items, so that those who know you can also be a part of that campaign and avoid the use of things made of plastic.

Also, if there is any function or party in our house, we should avoid plastic plates, bowls, and glasses, but use utensils made of steel.

If you can’t avoid using plastic, try reusing it. Apart from this, avoid buying new things made of plastic. If you have become accustomed to plastic items, try instead of throwing them away when they are damaged, to sell them at the junk shop so that they can be recycled, it will definitely reduce the plastic waste on the land.

4. Conclusion

Ultimately, the government should ban the use of plastic. Its use on the general public should be completely banned because only we are responsible for spreading plastic waste on land.

Unless it’s done with full responsibility, it’s very difficult to stop it. It’s time that now we should seriously consider it otherwise we won’t be able to escape from its ill effects in the coming time.

See the essay on computers .

Essay on Plastic Pollution in English ( 300 words )

Plastic is used a lot in our daily life. We all use it in different ways, and that’s why we are unable to reduce its use as time is proceeding.

As air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution are fatal for our environment, in the same way, plastic pollution is also dangerous for it. In earlier times, when the use of plastic was less, there was no problem of pollution caused by it, but today its excessive use is increasing the pollution caused by it.

Its excessive use has affected all living beings whether they’re humans, animals, or trees. It’s a substance that cannot be degraded. When it’s burnt, it increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a great threat to the environment.

Along with this, various types of plastic waste are eaten by animals, which adversely affects their health. Due to the toxic substance in it, it’s harmful to them.

Also, plastic waste is responsible for land pollution.

Plastic waste has increased so much that it can be easily seen on the banks of rivers, ponds, and seas. It can neither be broken nor disposed of. It can only be recycled.

In the absence of information, people use it and throw it on the ground outside the house, which gets accumulated in the ground and gets sunk somewhere inside. Therefore, the government should seriously campaign for this so that the pollution caused by it can be stopped and future problems related to it can be dealt with.

Along with government efforts, we should also be aware of the pollution caused by it and try to stop it.

See essay on the importance of reading .

Short Essay on Plastic Pollution in English ( 150 Words )

Plastic is a substance the use of which is increasing day by day. Due to its cheapness, It’s used in various fields. Its excessive use has increased plastic pollution, due to which it’s having a bad effect on our lives.

In fact, plastic cannot be decomposed. Sometimes when it’s burnt, it pollutes the environment in the form of carbon dioxide instead of being destroyed. Along with the increasing use of plastic, its waste is also increasing, which is often seen in ponds and on roads.

Nowadays, plastic bags, plastic glasses, and plastic plates are being used more for many purposes, which we are unable to reduce. Although efforts are being made to ban plastic under various campaigns, it has not been completely eradicated.

Earlier, when plastic was not used so much, there was no plastic pollution but today its excessive use has created a serious problem for our society.

So, it’s very essential to stop it. We must restrain ourselves to use it. Also, we should make others aware of this.

Final words

In the end, I hope that the article must have proved to be very helpful for you. Here, I have covered the essay on plastic pollution in 150 words, 300 words, and even 500 words.

If you really liked this article, please share it with those who need it.

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Vijay Gupta

Hello everyone, My name is Vijay Gupta and I belong to a very small town that is situated in district Hardoi, which is in Uttar Pradesh. 1. Education – I’ve completed my primary education from a private school that is situated in my hometown and upper primary, matric and higher secondary education have been completed from a government college. Well, I was an average student till class 5th, but I accelerated my preference towards studies from class six. Consequently, I passed out many classes with good positions. Even I passed out 12th with good marks ( 405/500 ) and topped my college. Due to getting good marks, I got a cheque of 500 rupees and was rewarded by the Principal of my college. After completing my 12th, I prepared twice for IIT ( Indian Institute of Technology ) from Aakash institute, but unfortunately, I failed to get selected into the best IIT colleges. But during the preparation, I was being graduated from CSJMU Kanpur. I completed my graduation in 2016 and now I’m pursuing an educational degree ( B.Ed. ). 2. Profession – Although I love teaching, but I also do blogging. Both are my favorite jobs.

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  • What You Can Do to Reduce Plastic Waste

Related Information

  • Ten Ways to Unpackage Your Life.

What You Can Do About Trash Pollution.

We can all help to reduce and eliminate plastics in the environment. Find some actions you can take to help below.

On this page:

Reduce and Reuse

This is a picture of several plastic bottles hanging from a ceiling with plants growing in them.

  • The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place, so focus on reducing your waste as much as possible.
  • Set your table with cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glasses, and silverware as often as possible.
  • Think green before you shop. Bring your own reusable bag for carrying your purchases, and try to buy items with minimal packaging.
  • If you bring your lunch, package it in reusable containers instead of disposable ones. Read EPA's Pack a Waste Free Lunch guide for more tips.
  • Bring drinks with you in a water bottle or thermos instead of disposable bottles or cartons.
  • Consider putting a filter on your water tap and refilling bottles with the filtered water instead of buying bottled water.
  • Instead of buying many small drink bottles, buy drink mixes in bulk and fill your reusable bottles.
  • Maintain and repair plastics products, so that they won't have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently.
  • Buy used plastic items to reduce plastic waste.
  • Instead of discarding unwanted plastic items that are still in good shape, try selling or donating them, so others can reuse them. Choose your favorite app to post your items on for sale or free. Or find out if your local church, community center, thrift store, or school accepts a donated items.
  • Baking cookies or other goodies as presents? Package them in reusable or recyclable containers.
  • Reuse or repurpose items such as toys, clam shell containers, water bottles, and containers to prevent plastic waste.

For many more tips on how you can reduce waste across the board, check out our page on Reducing Waste: What You Can Do .

This is a photo of a person putting a plastic bottle into a recycling bin

  • Know before you throw. Some types of plastics are not accepted in community recycling programs. Check with your local recycling program to find out which types of plastic they accept. 
  • The symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles and containers identify the type of plastic used to make the container. This can help you determine whether the item is recyclable by your local program. The resin number is contained in a triangle that looks very similar to the recycling symbol. However, this symbol does not necessarily mean it can be collected for recycling in your community.
  • Encourage your household to  recycle right and recycle more .
  • Look into how to recycle plastic bags, wrap, and film in your area. These items are recyclable, but they cannot go in your household recycling bin. Ask your local grocery and department store, or visit the  Earth911  to find a location nearest you that recycles plastic bags, wrap, and film.
  • You can rarely recycle plastic utensils. Think about if you need them before picking up your takeout. If not, ask the restaurant to leave them out of your order. Consider washing and reusing whatever you do need.
  • Compostable plastics are not intended for recycling either and can contaminate and disrupt the recycling stream if mixed with non-compostable plastics. If your community does not have a composting pick-up program that accepts compostable plastic, contact your garbage and recycling company or local government to find out if there are any drop-off locations for your compostable plastic items.
  • Organize a recycling drive in your neighborhood or at school. Collect bottles and other accepted containers and take them to your local recycling center or a charity in need.
  • When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials. 
  • Moving? Use bubble wrap containing recycled plastic. Be sure to recycle packaging materials after your move.
  • Sustainable Management of Plastics Homepage
  • About Plastic Pollution
  • Best Practices
  • Regulation and Policy
  • Resources and Grant Programs

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Ielts essay # 1238 - plastic bags, bottles and packaging are bad for the environment, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment., what damage does plastic do to the environment what can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem.

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Plastic bags from Walmart US recycling bins tracked to controversial plastic facilities in Southeast Asia

An ABC News investigation offers a rare glimpse into the plastic waste trade.

Pua Lay Peng lives on the front lines of the global plastic pollution crisis. The 52-year-old's hometown of Jenjarom, Malaysia has been transformed in recent years by thousands of tons of imported plastic waste from the U.S. and other wealthy nations. As a result, the once quiet agricultural town she grew up in is now surrounded by dumpsites and smokestacks from plastic factories that she says pose dire health risks for her and her loved ones.

"We want to let people who send their waste to Malaysia know that we need your help," she told ABC News. "Your waste is harmful and threatens the health of my family, my children, and also destroys the future of my people, my generation."

PHOTO: Malaysian anti-plastics advocate Pua Lay Peng searching through a burning dumpsite outside a plastic facility near her hometown of Jenjarom, Malaysia.

Hidden among the tsunami of plastic waste America sent to Southeast Asia last year were three of the 19 tracking devices ABC News secured to plastic bags and dropped off at Walmart store recycling bins across the U.S. Two of those trackers ended up at plastic facilities outside of Port Klang, Malaysia, not far from Pua Lay Peng's hometown, while a third landed in Indonesia.

PHOTO: The last known locations in Southeast Asia where three plastic bag trackers that ABC News deployed in recycling bins at U.S. Walmarts.

"No responsible waste company in the United States, no responsible local government should be exporting plastic waste to other countries," Judith Enck, a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator and current president of the anti-plastic pollution project Beyond Plastics , told ABC News. "It's causing real damage, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia," Enck said.

Probing the international plastic waste trade

Originally deployed as part of a groundbreaking investigation into America's plastic recycling system, these three trackers now offer a rare glimpse into the mysterious and controversial inner workings of the international plastic waste trade.

MORE: We put dozens of trackers in plastic bags for recycling. Many were trashed.

The investigation began more than 18 months ago, when ABC News and nine of its affiliated and owned stations secured 46 digital tracking devices to plastic bags and deployed them at Walmart and Target store drop-off recycling bins across 10 states. ABC News closely monitored the trackers for months and checked each facility they pinged from to ensure that the trackers likely had not been detected as contamination along their journey. Ultimately, the vast majority of trackers never pinged from a plastic bag recycling facility, with many ending up in landfills or incinerators.

Only four trackers last pinged from a U.S. facility that said it was involved in plastic bag recycling. However, subsequent public records requests and additional research have revealed that all four of these facilities likely either trashed the plastic bags in the U.S. or exported them abroad, though none of the facilities would divulge to ABC News specifically where the bags were sent.

PHOTO: A burning dumpsite located directly beside a plastic manufacturing facility outside Jenjarom, Malaysia.

Exporting plastic waste, particularly to poorer nations, is a controversial practice. Often decried by critics as "waste colonialism," the United Nations has described it as "highly prone to corruption," and the international community has tried to curb the trade through the 2019 Basel Convention's Amendments on Plastic Waste , which set strict regulations for international plastic waste shipments.

The U.S, however, one of the world's biggest plastic producers, is among five U.N.-recognized countries that refused to join the agreement and which continues to send plastic waste abroad with little oversight. Since 2020, more than 600,000 metric tons of plastic waste has been shipped from U.S. ports to countries around the world under the premise of "recycling," according to an ABC News analysis of data provided by S & P Global Market Intelligence.

A plastic bag's journey from New York to Indonesia

The first ABC News plastic bag tracker to travel overseas was dropped into a plastic bag recycling bin at a Walmart in Kingston, New York. It later pinged from a recycling facility in New Jersey known to export plastic waste abroad. The tracker then went dark for nearly three months, until it finally pinged more than 9,000 miles away, directly outside three affiliated plastic facilities in Batam, Indonesia. After that, it was never heard from again.

PHOTO: The locations of a plastic bag tracker deployed by ABC News at a Walmart in Kingston, New York, until the tracker’s final known location, which pinged inside an industrial park that houses three affiliated plastic facilities in Batam, Indonesia.

MORE: Plastic recycling directory ends, citing lack of 'real commitment from industry'

The plastic facilities near the location of ABC News' plastic bag tracker's last pings have been the subject of numerous controversies, according to local media reports. As of 2020, two of the facilities, were reportedly under investigation by Indonesian authorities for illegally dumping plastic-laden wastewater into the drainage ditches directly behind them. More recently, the facilities have been the subject of numerous reports regarding allegedly unsafe and exploitative labor conditions.

ABC News visited the ditches last month where the alleged dumping had occurred and found shredded plastic there coating countless leaves and blades of grass.

The Indonesian facilities did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

PHOTO: Shredded plastic bits found in a drainage ditch directly behind an Indonesian facility where a plastic bag tracker deployed by ABC News at a Walmart recycling bin in Kingston, NY.

The Malaysia trackers

Two other plastic bag trackers deployed by ABC News last pinged from Malaysia, which has been among the top destinations for exported plastic waste ever since China banned the material in 2018.

"A lot of recyclers from China – they came here. And they found Malaysia is such a haven to run this illegal factory," Pua Lay Peng said.

PHOTO: Piles of degrading plastic waste seen inside a plastic manufacturing facility outside Jenjarom, Malaysia.

Pua and her team at the Kuala Langat Environmental Action Association have extensive experience monitoring and filing complaints against polluting plastic facilities. Over the years, they've gotten hundreds of illegal recycling centers shut down, and have also received death threats.

"I decided to fight until death, okay?," she said. "If I don't stand up to fight, the consequences will allow my family members, my friends will be killed. Just a matter of time, okay? But if I stand up to fight, I have [a] chance then."

PHOTO: Malaysian anti-plastics advocate Pua Lay Peng searching through a burning dumpsite outside a plastic facility near her hometown of Jenjarom, Malaysia.

One of the ABC News trackers was originally deployed at a Walmart in Wichita, Kansas and last pinged from a plastics facility located directly beside the Langat River, not far from Pua Lay Peng's Malaysian hometown. The facility does not appear to have a license to import plastic waste, according to a 2023 list provided to ABC News by a Malaysian parliament member.

"I believe that the trackers that [were] put in by ABC is evidence of smuggling," said Pua Lay Peng. "They don't have an import permit but they're able to get waste from overseas."

A recent U.N. report on illegal waste trading in Southeast Asia says in part that "Missing licenses or permits, smuggling" and "lack of valid documentation" were among "the primary tactics for the illegal shipments." There's no way of knowing exactly how the ABC News tracker ended up at the facility, but Pua says there's reason for concern.

"This is a proof of what I worry, that this [is] actually happening, and it's quite serious," she said.

write an essay on plastic bags

The Malaysian riverside plastics facility where the tracker pinged from manufactures plastic bags, sometimes using recycled content. Though the company advertises itself as a responsible corporation committed to protecting the environment, ABC News documented several discharge canals emanating from the facility that appear to be dumping plastic-laden wastewater directly into the adjacent Langat River.

write an essay on plastic bags

MORE: Video Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling

"We used to see them discharge it every two days," Saravanan Kumar, whose family has been fishing along the Langat for generations, told ABC News. "Sometimes we can see it all, the plastics and everything. Lots of plastic floating around. It has obviously harmed the source of the food for the fish," he said.

Kumar says the facility's pollution has devastated the river that fishermen like him once depended on for their livelihood.

"It is sad because the life in the water died and we are now afraid to eat fish that used to be delicious. We are afraid that we may hurt our kids by eating it," he told ABC News.

"The river is broken. Indeed, there is nothing left here," Kumar said.

The facility did not respond to ABC News' repeated requests for comment.

PHOTO: A Malaysian plastic facility where an ABC News plastic bag tracker last pinged that does not appear to have a license to import plastic waste.

Another tracker last pinged from a Malaysian plastics facility located in an urban area outside of Port Klang that does have an import license, according to the government list obtained by ABC News. However, Pua Lay Peng says even if a facility is properly licensed, it's still no guarantee against harmful pollution to her community, claiming Malaysia's government does not adequately monitor the factories or regularly enforce existing regulations to ensure harmful pollution does not occur.

"We have a broken system. We are not as capable as your people think that we can handle your waste," she told ABC News.

In response to ABC News reporting, the Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment wrote in a preliminary statement that they take "the illegal plastic waste trade issue raised by ABC News very seriously," and committed to "analyse and investigate" the information ABC News provided.

"Following the conclusion of the investigation, any misbehaviour will face severe consequences," they wrote.

Tracking the plastics highways of the high seas

Beyond contributing to plastics pollution, the act of shipping plastic waste itself is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. An ABC News analysis of shipping data provided by the trade analytics company S & P Global Market Intelligence estimates that the fuel used for the transportation of plastic waste alone has pumped more than 100,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent climate-warming emissions into the atmosphere over the past three years.

That's the equivalent of the annual emissions of more than 23,000 passenger vehicles. It would take more than 1.7 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years to sequester that volume of emissions from the atmosphere.

"We need the cooperation of commercial shipping companies, because they can turn off the tap of these plastic exports," Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics told ABC News. Her group was among a chorus of environmental organizations that put out a call in 2021 for shipping companies to ban plastic waste exports.

Only one major shipping company, CMA-CGM, heeded that call with a voluntary public pledge to stop carrying plastic waste aboard their ships entirely, beginning in June 2022.

"We have 12 million tons of plastic waste floating around in the oceans," Peter Levesque, the former president of CMA-CGM North America, told ABC News. "So we have a problem. And the question was, are we enabling that problem in any way? And the answer was: possibly," Levesque said.

Despite the ban, however, shipping data provided to ABC News by S & P Global Market Intelligence shows that, since their pledge to stop, CMA-CGM has transported hundreds of shipments carrying thousands of tons of material that S & P identified as plastic waste.

"That's something we'd have to look into," Levesque said when ABC News provided him the data. "There's no physical inspection of what's inside the container unless customs happens to hold it up for some reason. So there is a level of trust that's there and there's a level of documentation that has to be trusted."

CMA-CGM later told ABC News that nearly all the shipments marked as plastic waste by S & P Global Market Intelligence were coded by their customers in CMA-CGM's internal booking system as items other than plastic waste. S & P Global Market Intelligence analyzes raw descriptions pulled from customs authorities to assign a code.

After speaking with multiple experts and closely reviewing the S & P data, ABC News found some of CMA-CGM's customers or their agents may be misleading the company, and that it likely transported at least 350 shipments of plastic waste in the 18 months since their pledge to stop. Most of those shipments went to Malaysia.

After cross-referencing the times and locations provided by two of our plastic bag trackers, an ABC News analysis determined that it was highly likely that the two trackers were among those shipments.

Still, the data does show a significant drop in CMA-CGM's plastic waste shipments compared to before their pledge, but it's still far from the total stoppage the company promised in promotional materials.

CMA-CGM declined to comment on the ABC News analysis, but has promised in the past that any misdeclarations regarding its plastic waste ban "will lead to a blacklisting of the incriminated entity."

A U.N. report released this month on the waste trade found a pattern of waste exporters lying to shipping companies about the items being shipped, in order to bypass regulations, compounded by governments often turning a blind eye to the issue and allowing plastic waste to be smuggled into countries that have lax border enforcement.

MORE: Greenpeace report finds plastics recycling is a dead-end street

Seeking answers from america's largest retailer.

PHOTO: A Walmart in Kingston, N.Y. where ABC News deposited a plastic bag tracker that last pinged from Indonesia.

Despite months of attempting to arrange an interview with a Walmart representative for this report, the company declined. However, when approached at the Reuter's Responsible Business U.S.A. Conference, a gathering of senior leaders from some of America's largest corporations, Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart's chief sustainability officer, told ABC News that "if you want to get into it, I'm happy to meet with you and go through what we're doing."

After setting a date to be interviewed, however, the company canceled and declined to answer any questions in writing. Walmart instead delivered the following statement:

"We strive to do the right thing, and while our bag recycling program isn't perfect, it does provide access to recycling for millions of customers across the country. The companies we contract with report that the overwhelming majority of the mixed recycling materials we provide (including thousands of tons of plastic bags) are fit to be recycled and by contract sent on for that purpose, though contaminated materials cannot be recycled (for example, ABC's trackers could themselves be considered bag contaminants)."

"We have high expectations of the companies we contract with and are committed to continuously improving our recycling and waste reduction programs," the statement continued. "For example, last year we negotiated enhanced contracts that explicitly require these companies to ensure and prove that eligible materials collected through our program are recycled to the maximum extent practicable."

Kate Holland, Jared Kofsky, Alex Myers and Seiji Yamashita, as well as ABC affiliate stations KAKE, WFTV and WLS, contributed to this report.

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    The pervasive use of plastic, while convenient and durable, has unleashed a hidden monster - plastic pollution. This threat affects every corner of the planet, endangering life on land and in water. Banning single-use plastics is crucial for a healthier planet and a brighter future. Plastic pollution extends to our oceans, with an estimated 8 ...

  4. Should Plastic Bags Be Banned?

    However, there is a need for all 50 states to prohibit the use of plastic bags at the checkout of retail and grocery stores. The use of plastic bags has detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic bags cause harmful consequences to forests, lakes, rivers, and oceans. The harm undermines the survival of flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

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    Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned. Plastic, once hailed as a revolutionary material for its versatility and convenience, has now evolved into an unprecedented global environmental crisis. The ubiquity of plastic in our daily lives has led to a proliferation of plastic waste, causing profound harm to ecosystems, human health, and economies ...

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    The first reason is that the article explain as to why it would affect us. It could affect the use of carrying items. Plastic bags are useful do to the fact that it carries a lot more items than paper bags. That it can support the weight of the items. Plastic bags are more useful in any kind of way.

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  20. IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Plastic Bags

    1. The first sentence is a topic sentence that includes my main idea for the whole paragraph (the main problem is pollution for land and water). 2. The second sentence explains my main idea by saying that most plastic bags are either littered or thrown in the trash. 3.

  21. What You Can Do to Reduce Plastic Waste

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  22. IELTS Essay # 1238

    The environmental damages caused by plastic are severe and often extreme. Plastic bags, bottles, packages, toys and many other materials made of plastic remain in land and water for hundreds of years as they are not biodegradable. Plastic materials, that get mixed with soil, impair the breathability of soil and hamper the water flow in it.

  23. Plastic bags from Walmart US recycling bins tracked to controversial

    Pua Lay Peng lives on the front lines of the global plastic pollution crisis. The 52-year-old's hometown of Jenjarom, Malaysia has been transformed in recent years by thousands of tons of imported ...