One of the most widely used items in the world is plastic bags. An estimated 6 billion plastic bags are used annually in Japan. Approximately 500 plastic bags are used annually by the average American. Although plastic bags are practical, they can also harm the Environment. Plastic bags frequently end up in landfills or as litter and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Litter made of plastic bags can harm wildlife, clog storm drains, and pollute waterways. It is generally acknowledged that using plastic bags has a negative impact on the Environment because they are frequently discarded improperly and can contaminate the land and water. As a result, a large number of people in Japan and the USA likely support policies that would reduce the use of plastic bags and increase recycling efforts. This essay will discuss the negative effects of plastic bags in Japan and the USA as well as potential solutions.
Both in Japan and the United States, the effects of plastic bags are primarily detrimental. Plastic bags are one of the main contributors to marine pollution in Japan. and they also contribute significantly to the amount of land-based litter. In Japan, plastic bags are one of the main sources of marine pollution (Tudor et al., 2018). Millions of plastic bags are dumped in the ocean each year, endangering marine life in grave ways. Plastic bags, for instance, are sometimes mistaken for jellyfish by turtles, who love to eat them. When animals consume plastic bags, they may experience severe health issues, such as digestive tract obstructions (Knoblauch et al., 2018). Plastic bags can contaminate the water and beaches in addition to harming marine life.
Plastics can release dangerous chemicals into the Environment while they decompose, which can take years. In Japan, plastic bags are a significant issue, and actions are being taken to lessen their environmental impact (Zettler et al., 2017). When carrying groceries or other items, plastic bags are frequently used and then dumped on the ground. Given that plastic takes a long time to decompose, this litter may be harmful to the Environment.
Plastic bags are a significant cause of pollution in both the marine and terrestrial environments in the United States. The use of plastic bags harms wildlife, litters beaches, and clogs storm drains. Additionally, burning plastic bags releases dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere (Letcher, 2020). There are several ways that this is obvious. First, a significant contributor to litter are plastic bags. They are a common sight in parks, beaches, and along roadside ditches. Second, clogged storm sewers and drains caused by plastic bags can result in flooding. Third, plastic bags have the potential to float in the ocean and eventually wash up on shorelines, harming or even killing wildlife. Last but not least, since plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose, they will continue to pollute the Environment for decades.
In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment started the “Reduce Plastic Bag Use” campaign in 2007 to lessen the negative effects of plastic bags on the Environment (Alabi et al., 2019). In addition to promoting the use of reusable bags, the campaign encouraged retailers to charge customers for plastic bags. Between 2007 and 2011, the campaign caused a 40% decrease in plastic bag usage in Japan.
Although the use of plastic bags has received less attention in the United States, a number of states and cities have put policies in place to limit their use. For instance, Seattle and Los Angeles are just two of the cities that have banned the use of plastic bags since San Francisco did so in 2007. Many states have enacted nationwide bans on plastic bags, including Hawaii (Letcher, 2020). All retail businesses, including restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, and clothing stores, are subject to the ban.
Recycling plastic bags is a way to lessen their impact. Plastic bag recycling programs are widely available in Japan, and some supermarkets even offer discounts to shoppers who bring their own bags (Gomiero, 2019). Utilizing fewer plastic bags is another way to lessen their impact. When you go shopping, bring your own reusable bags and try to avoid using plastic bags that are meant to be thrown away.
Governments and other environmental organizations must also encourage people to reuse or recycle their bags in order to reduce the amount of plastic bag litter (Chauhan & Wani, 2019). Customers who bring their own bags receive discounts at many grocery stores in Japan, and some of these establishments have even stopped providing plastic bags altogether. We can contribute to maintaining a clean and safe environment by using fewer plastic bags.
In conclusion, plastic bag use has a negative impact on both Japan and the United States. They produce a lot of litter and are a significant source of pollution. They might also be harmful to wildlife. Because they are difficult to properly dispose of and can have a negative effect on both the land and the water, plastic bags are a significant source of pollution. Therefore, encouraging people to reuse or recycle their bags and engaging in recycling are ways to reduce the amount of plastic bag litter.
References
Alabi, O. A., Ologbonjaye, K. I., Awosolu, O., & Alalade, O. E. (2019). Public and environmental health effects of plastic wastes disposal: a review. J Toxicol Risk Assess, 5(021), 1-13.
Chauhan, G. S., & Wani, S. (2019). Plastic pollution: a major environmental threat. Int J Innovative Res Technol, 6, 43-46.
Gomiero, A. (Ed.). (2019). Plastics in the Environment. BoD–Books on Demand.
Knoblauch, D., Mederake, L., & Stein, U. (2018). Developing countries in the lead—what drives the diffusion of plastic bag policies?. Sustainability, 10(6), 1994.
Letcher, T. M. (2020). Introduction to plastic waste and recycling. In Plastic Waste and Recycling (pp. 3-12). Academic Press.
Letcher, T. M. (2020). Introduction to plastic waste and recycling. In Plastic Waste and Recycling (pp. 3-12). Academic Press.
Tudor, V. C., Marin, A., Vasca, D. Z., Micu, M. M., & Smedescu, D. I. (2018). The influence of the plastic bags on the Environment. Materiale plastice, 55(4), 595.
Zettler, E. R., Takada, H., Monteleone, B., Mallos, N., Eriksen, M., & Amaral-Zettler, L. A. (2017). Incorporating citizen science to study plastics in the Environment. Analytical Methods, 9(9), 1392-1403.
write