Plastic Shopping Bags Pro or Con?

News Angle In the most recent election, California created the country’s first statewide ban. The New York City council already voted on a 5 cent plastic bag tax over the summer. Should New York State follow California’s lead and ban plastic bags outright?

Pros! Yes, ban the bag!

Plastic bags harm the environment. Ten percent of the plastic produced every year winds up in the ocean. Every square mile of ocean has about 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it.

People say they recycle, but they don’t; force them! Studies show that the average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store – but only about 1 percent of all bags wind up recycled.

A number of countries around the world – and cities in the U. S A number of countries around the world – and cities in the U.S. – have already banned plastic. They’ve gotten used to it in many African countries, as well as China. So can we

Cons – Keep the bag

Plastic bags are convenient. People have enough worries. Don’t pile on.

Bans and surcharges punish the poor. It’s expensive to buy canvas bags – a luxury for the more well off.

Banning bags hurts the economy. Some people will lose their jobs because the law will cause plastic bag factories and plastic bag recycling facilities to close down. These are the kinds of jobs the country can’t afford to lose.