Question

• (Plastic Bags) Should the use of plastic shopping bags be banned? Explain using concepts in class. Review the pros and cons of banning the use of such bags. Can the Coase Theorem be used in this case (i.e., can a solution be reached between shoppers and supplies of plastic bags) or do you think the government should step in? If you believe the government should step in, what policy should it implement? What are the potential pros and cons of the policy?

Answer 1

Plastic bags should be banned. Plastic is non-bio-degradable and thus causes pollution; as it cannot be recycled, burning plastic diffuses harmful smoke. Plastic also emits some radiation. Plastic bags can prove to be a choke hazard for small animals and people. Plastic water bottles are also thought to be carcinogenic.

Plastic bag production uses almost 10 percent of the world's annual oil supply. Only 3.5 percent of this number are recycled. This means that much of the planet's precious natural resources are being used to produce plastic bags that many of us maintain are unneccessary. The chemicals and compounds that go into making plastic bags could also be utilised in a far more effective manner. These two factors show that plastic bag production is a waste of resources, which could be being used in a far more effective way. Also there is alot of animals dieing about like 100,000 animals dieing each year by plastic bags.

Pros of Plastic Bag Bans

• Plastic bags bans enhance the economy: Bans on plastic bags cause an uptick in business for reusable bag manufacturers and lead to increased employment opportunities.
• Eliminating plastic bags reduces cost of goods: Stores have to factor in the cost of disposable bags into their prices. By eliminating plastic bags, stores can lower prices, helping shoppers save $18 to $30 annually.
• Plastic bags are not biodegradable: When plastics bags become litter, they pollute oceans, rivers, farmlands, cities, and neighborhoods. Bans eliminate bags, which equals less litter and less pollution.
• Picking up litter costs tax money: Banning plastic bags will reduce litter and allow for tax money to be redirected to more important areas.
• Marine life will improve: Marine animals often mistake plastic bags as jellyfish or plankton, leading them to consume the litter and become ill or die.
• Drainage infrastructures run more efficiently: Plastic litter often clogs drainage systems, causing unnecessary flooding.
• Plastic bag bans reduce the need to petroleum: Banning plastic bags will minimize the dependency on the limited non-renewable resource.
• Decrease the mosquito population: Discarded plastic bags collect rainwater and creates a breeding ground for mosquitos, some of which could carry the West Nile Virus or Triple E Virus.

Cons of Plastic Bag Bans

• Plastic bans manufacturers scale back: Bans often lead plastic bag manufacturers to scale back business and may lead to layoffs.
• Upfront cost to shoppers: Plastic bag bans will require shoppers having to purchase reusable bags, which can range from $1 and up.

The solution for plastic bags are low cost cloth bags. It is much cost effective than paper bags also they are more sustainable.  

Government should come forward to regulate the usage of plastic bags. They should impose fine or tax on plastic bag usage. Through this 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 government ’s Environmental Protection Fund.

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