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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.

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.

Just a Few Choice Arguments as to Why Plastic Should be Banned

Plastic bags have already been banned in many places, but some argue that plastics themselves should be entirely abolished.

Oct. 22 2020, Updated 5:16 p.m. ET

In terms of recycling, the world is in a much better place than it was a few decades ago. Plastic bags have already been banned in many cities, counties, and countries the world over. Recycled plastic is being used to make just about everything you could imagine. Toys, bottles, tumblers, cutlery, and even a few recycling bins are just the beginning of what we can do with recycled plastic. 

Unfortunately, recycling and repurposing the plastic is like putting a Band-Aid on a wound that already needed stitches to begin with. Plastics are everywhere, and while some, like those used for cars or appliances, are a necessary evil, many can be completely eliminated; that’s the argument at least. But how feasible is this solution and why are plastics so bad in the first place?

Why is plastic bad for the environment?

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Made from petroleum products, Baekland’s “ bakelite ” plastic was a revolutionary material. It was lightweight, could withstand heat and cold, could hold up over time, and best of all, it was cheap and easy to mass-produce. Baekland couldn’t have anticipated that plastic’s long-term durability would end up making so detrimental and dangerous for the environment. 

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. When it does break down — after a very long time, mind you — it turns into harmful nodules of microplasti c. These microplastic motes find their way into waterways, where they are digested by other creatures, including humans. They sit in the gut, piling up and leeching harmful elements into the body. 

Why is plastic bad for humans?

On top of being a pollutant, plastic is known to emit some radiation, and there are theories that some plastic water bottles are carcinogenic if used over time. This means that even using a reusable plastic water bottle isn’t a great idea either. If plastic is so bad for people and so bad for the environment, why are we still using it? 

Plastic’s highly-disposable nature is part of the problem as well. We can use a bottle of Gatorade for a few minutes and throw the bottle away when we’re done. It’s too easy and it always has been. It was only when we finally started to see the piles of plastic growing around us, piling up in landfills, and taking up huge swaths of the Pacific Ocean , that we decided something should be done. 

Can plastic really be recycled?

Plastic can and has been recycled for decades now, but there are some experts who think that even this isn’t such a good idea. First of all, not all plastic can be recycled . Only certain types, used for certain purposes can be reused and repurposed. When we do recycle plastic, melting it down in order to reprocess it can send harmful burning plastic smoke into the atmosphere. And frankly, we have enough problems with our atmosphere as it is. 

Recycling can also be logistically and financially difficult. Plastic recycling requires specialized equipment that is not readily available. Recycling plants require energy to run and people to man them. And unlike plastic production, which is cheap and easily handled after so much practice, recycling offers far less return on investment for businesses. Thus, it’s not nearly as popular as it should be. Not to mention, only about 9 percent of plastic actually gets recycled .

Should plastic be banned?

Based on the convenience and necessity of plastic, there is little chance of any government or organization outright banning it. People wouldn’t allow it. We’ve all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. The alternatives aren't well-known either, and that presents a problem in delivering a coherent message to the general public. However, there are several solutions that might make regulating plastic a bit easier. 

How can we ban plastic?

The first thing we could do is tax it. This has already been done with disposable grocery bags in some places, where many people are just not willing to pay an extra 10 cents for a plastic bag. That adds up over time. Of course, many consumers have rolled over in favor of convenience, plastic’s most staunch advocate. Recycling can only go so far as we discussed, but it is an option — though there's not much to do about non-recyclable plastics. 

Banning single-use plastics is the only true way to do it. Bags were a good start, but bottles, cups, straws, and cutlery will be a harder sell. This is especially true for small businesses and chains who rely on low-cost options to serve and sell their wares. In the end, allowances will always have to be considered. Unfortunately, until everyone is on board, plastics will remain an innocuous, yet destructive piece of our daily lives. 

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Should Plastic be Banned Essay

One type of pollution that is seriously harming our ecosystem is plastic pollution, to which plastic bags are a significant contributor. It poses a risk to Earthly life. The reduction of usage of plastic bags is necessary to minimize pollution. Plastic bags pollute the land, the air, and the water. This is the rationale behind the bans on them in a number of nations. Nevertheless, these are still frequently utilized and proven to be harmful to the environment in most regions of the world.

In this article, we will exoplore essays arguing in favor of banning plastic bags. Let’s see.

Table of Content

Long and Short English Essay on the Need for a Plastic Bag Ban

Short essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 200 words, essay on environmental pollution and plastic – 300 words, essay on why plastic bags are harmful for health – 400 words, essay on problems caused by plastic bags – 500 words, long essay on why plastic bags should be banned – 600 words.

You can use these various length essays on the topic of why plastic bags should be prohibited for your examinations and school projects. You can choose any essay on why plastic bags ought to be outlawed based on your needs and preferences.

Plastic bags are frequently used and easily found in stores. Because they are useful for transporting groceries, these are particularly well-liked at grocery stores. These come in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced in addition to being lightweight. But we don’t consider the expense of utilizing these bags. These bags are depleting our lovely surroundings. Indeed! The ecology is at risk from the plastic bags we use on a daily basis.

The issue is far more serious than it first seems. According to researchers, one of the main reasons for water pollution is plastic bags. Some other reasons would be infertility of crop lands.

Many states in our nation have banned the use of plastic bags. Nevertheless, this rule hasn’t been properly implemented. These are still offered for sale. The stores give these bags to customers, who are happy to take their belongings in these convenient tote bags. It’s time for each of us to realize how serious the problem is and to give up using plastic bags.

The level of pollution in our surroundings is increasing daily. It has grown significantly since the start of the industrial revolution. In the previous few decades, pollution has multiplied due to an increase in factories and automobiles on our globe. While factory and car smoke has negatively impacted air quality and made breathing difficult, trash from homes and businesses has primarily contributed to the pollution of water and land, which has led to a number of serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Plastic is one of the primary drivers of contamination in the modern world, in addition to other things. Plastic is normally used in the creation of a wide range of things, like plastic sacks, kitchenware, furniture, entryways, sheeting, bundling material, ledges, and that’s just the beginning. Plastic is gotten from non-renewable energy sources like oil and petrol. Individuals like plastic items since they are more reasonable and lightweight than wood or metal items.

How much plastic waste that is challenging to discard is becoming because of the expanded utilization of plastic. The material plastic isn’t biodegradable. It deteriorates and ages over the long haul, yet it never mixes in with the dirt. Plastic adds to natural harm and is available in the climate for many years. Poisons that damage soil and water are delivered into landfills. Plastic couldn’t actually be scorched to dispose of it since consuming plastic deliveries destructive exhaust that can prompt significant medical conditions. Accordingly, discarding plastic has become progressively troublesome.

Along these lines, a few countries have prohibited plastic packs, which contribute essentially to plastic contamination. In any case, just prohibiting plastic packs won’t cut it. To decrease ecological contamination, extra plastic articles should likewise be prohibited.

It is imperative that we comprehend the extent to which plastic is devasting our ecosystem and making life more difficult for humans, animals, plants, and marine life. Reduced plastic product consumption is necessary to maintain a cleaner environment.

The ubiquitous plastic bags we use on a daily basis pose a threat to life as we know it. These have gradually crept into our lives and are now a significant contributor to both human and animal illness.

Plastic Bags: Dangerous to Human Well-Being

The health of individuals is enormously hurt by plastic packs. Plastic packs just adversely influence human wellbeing from the second they are created until they are discarded as garbage.

The wellbeing of individuals who work in the plastic pack industry is harmed by the risky synthetics made during the most common way of giving plastic sacks their ideal shape. Food bundling often utilizes plastic packs. As per scientists, a few destructive substances from the plastic get into the food items that are bundled in it. Accordingly, rather than keeping the food securely pressed, plastic sacks pollute it. Various occurrences of plastic sullying food have been recorded. Devouring such food can seriously endanger one for food contamination, stomach related issues, and different sicknesses.

Furthermore, a lot of non-biodegradable trash is delivered by plastic packs. For almost 500 years, this junk is as yet present on the planet. The nature of drinking water is brought down when this waste material gets into water bodies. Throughout recent many years, there has been a huge decrease in the nature of drinking water. The essential driver of this is the developing amount of plastic packs that are being discarded in drinking water sources like streams. Various ailments spread by water have supplanted this.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Plastic back trash significantly affects creatures, particularly marine life. After utilizing the plastic packs, we imprudently dispose of them. Most of the rubbish places where the exposed animals assemble looking for food are loaded up with these plastic sacks. Animals habitually consume entire plastic sacks or minimal plastic particles with their dinner. Over the long run, the limited quantity of plastic that collects in their bodies prompts medical problems. Be that as it may, assuming that they gulp down the entire plastic sack immediately, they risk being quickly choked to death.

The marine life is in a comparable situation. Plastic waste has extraordinarily expanded the contamination of oceanic bodies. The water that marine life drinks is turning out to be more regrettable subsequently. Fish, turtles, and other amphibian creatures likewise consume plastic.

Thus, plastic bags are really bad for your health. We should cease using them and replace them with more environmentally friendly options.

Since plastic sacks are lightweight and helpful to deal with, they are exceptionally famous. Moreover, we don’t have to purchase these when we go out to shop, dissimilar to fabric or paper packs. Since they are modest, the storekeepers give them out without limitation when clients purchase anything. Retailers and clients the same blessing plastic sacks for the reasons recorded previously. In any case, we likewise need to see the more extensive picture and see past the transient accommodation.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

(a) Non Biodegradable

Packs made of plastic don’t biodegrade. The biggest problem is disposing of them. They don’t crumble; all things being equal, they separate into little particles and infiltrate soil and water bodies. For many years, they wait in the dirt and water, delivering unsafe synthetic substances that hurt our exquisite planet.

(b) Deterioration of environment

Due to their adverse consequences, they are obliterating the normal world. Nowadays, one of the primary reasons of land defilement is plastic packs. The pre-owned plastic sacks are unloaded in landfills, where it will take them approximately 500 years to separate. Since these sacks are lightweight, the breeze can convey them to significant stretches. Land tainting results from their littering of the encompassing region and landfills. One of the primary drivers of water contamination is plastic sacks that end up in water bodies. Accordingly, these are hurting our biological system in each way.

(c) Dangerous to Marine Life and Animals

Plastic garbage is eaten by creatures and marine life notwithstanding food. Since plastic can’t be separated, it becomes trapped in their digestive organs. Different creatures and marine life experience grave medical problems because of a lot of plastic structure up in their digestive organs. At times, creatures accidentally gulp down the entire plastic pack. They are gagged to death when something becomes held up in their digestion tracts or throat. Especially famous for consuming the full plastic sack immediately, ocean turtles botch it for jellyfish. Studies uncover that disposed of plastic packs have been a critical supporter of untimely creature passings.

(d) The Reason Behind Human Illness

When plastic bags are made, hazardous chemicals are released into the air, endangering the health of those who work on them. Food contained in plastic bags may potentially be harmful to your health. Furthermore, waste plastic bags pollute the environment, as was already explained. One of the main factors contributing to the spread of many diseases among humans is pollution.

(e) Blockage in Sewage

Rubbish plastic sacks every now and again become trapped in channels and sewers in the wake of imploding in water or being passed up the breeze. The two individuals and creatures might be in danger from stopped up channels and sewers, especially while it’s coming down. Water develops in the channels because of plastic sack deterrents. This could create what is going on like a flood and impede individuals’ day to day routines.

We must recognize the issues that the convenient plastic bags are causing and put an end to their use. It’s time for our government to enact stringent legislation outlawing plastic bags.

One of the fundamental supporters of ecological debasement is plastic sacks. Since plastic is a non-biodegradable material, plastic packs dirty the biological system significantly for many years after they are left in the climate. It is currently exceptionally important to ban plastic packs before they thoroughly annihilate our planet.

Countries Where Plastic Bags are Prohibited

To restrict the utilization of plastic packs, various countries have either forced charges on them or through and through prohibited them. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Britain, Germany, Hawaii, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island, and Maine are a couple of these. The utilization of plastic packs has essentially diminished because of these activities. But since these endeavors haven’t been as effective in executing them, the issue actually hasn’t been completely fixed.

In a few of these countries, there is an underground market for plastic packs, and these dangerous sacks are as yet being sold unlawfully.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

The governments of several nations have implemented strict policies to restrict the use of plastic bags for a variety of reasons. Among these are a few of these:

• Plastic bag waste is severely damaging the land and water.
• Animals that live on land and in water face a threat from plastic bags.
• Plastic bag waste releases chemicals into the earth, rendering it unusable for cultivation.
• The health of people is being severely impacted by plastic bags.
• Plastic bags cause issues with drainage.

Maintain a Tab

It is challenging to suddenly stop utilizing plastic packs when we have become so used to them. We should continually be helping ourselves to remember the adverse outcomes that plastic sacks have on the climate and screen our utilization of them assuming we are to prevail in this goal. We will ultimately become acclimated to living without these packs.

L ook for Substitutes

Plastic bags have a lot of environmentally acceptable substitutes. Every time we go to the market, we can bring a reusable jute or cloth bag to carry our groceries and other belongings instead of the plastic ones.

Reuse: Before tossing away the plastic bags we now own at home, we should utilize them as often as possible.

Raise Awareness

We may likewise bring issues to light through informal, despite the fact that the public authority ought to utilize commercials and hoardings to bring issues to light of the adverse consequences of plastic packs and the requirement for a boycott. We can illuminate the young locally, maids, and vehicle wash drivers about the mischief that plastic sacks do to the climate and urge them to quit any pretense of utilizing them.

Plastic sack related issues are as often as possible ignored and underestimated. This is a consequence of people not considering the drawn out impacts of the little, lightweight sacks they use consistently. They keep on utilizing these sacks regardless of realizing that they have adverse consequences on account of how advantageous they are.

Related Articles:

• What is Plastic?
• Plastic Pollution
• Single Use Plastics – Concerns and Solutions

FAQs on Should Plastic be Banned Essay

What is a 5 sentence on plastic.

Plastic is an artificial material that doesn’t break down naturally. We haphazardly incorporate it into practically all daily products. Plastic waste builds up and contaminates the environment. Its buildup affects the land, rivers, and seas.

Why we should stop using plastic?

The remaining three quarters, which are not recycled, end up in our environment where they contaminate our oceans and disrupt our ecosystem. Marine life is particularly vulnerable since most plastic debris from less developed nations ends up in the ocean.

Why is plastic harmful?

Plastic persists in the ecosystem for a very long time, endangering species and dispersing pollutants. The use of plastic also fuels global warming. The chemicals used to make almost all plastics are derived from the burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil, and gas.

What is the slogan for no plastic?

“No plastic, no pollution.” “Protect Earth: avoid plastic.” “Say no to plastic, make Earth magic.” “Use less plastic, love Earth more.” This is the slogan for no plastic.

How plastic is affecting our life?

They offer packaging that minimizes food waste, such as the use of packaging with a modified environment to keep meat and vegetables fresher longer (Mullan, 2002). Plastics lower transportation costs and, thus, atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions because of their light weight.

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Plastic Pollution Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on plastic pollution.

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. People are using it endlessly just for their comfort. However, no one realizes how it is harming our planet. We need to become aware of the consequences so that we can stop plastic pollution . Kids should be taught from their childhood to avoid using plastic. Similarly, adults must check each other on the same. In addition, the government must take stringent measures to stop plastic pollution before it gets too late.

Uprise of Plastic Pollution

Plastic has become one of the most used substances. It is seen everywhere these days, from supermarkets to common households. Why is that? Why is the use of plastic on the rise instead of diminishing? The main reason is that plastic is very cheap. It costs lesser than other alternatives like paper and cloth. This is why it is so common.

Secondly, it is very easy to use. Plastic can be used for almost anything either liquid or solid. Moreover, it comes in different forms which we can easily mold.

Furthermore, we see that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not leave the face of the Earth . We cannot dissolve plastic in land or water, it remains forever. Thus, more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get dissolved. Thus, the uprise of plastic pollution is happening at a very rapid rate.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic Pollution is affecting the whole earth, including mankind, wildlife, and aquatic life. It is spreading like a disease which has no cure. We all must realize the harmful impact it has on our lives so as to avert it as soon as possible.

Plastic pollutes our water. Each year, tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean. As plastic does not dissolve, it remains in the water thereby hampering its purity. This means we won’t be left with clean water in the coming years.

Furthermore, plastic pollutes our land as well. When humans dump Plastic waste into landfills, the soil gets damaged. It ruins the fertility of the soil. In addition to this, various disease-carrying insects collect in that area, causing deadly illnesses.

Should Plastic Be Banned? Read the Essay here

Most importantly, plastic pollution harms the Marine life . The plastic litter in the water is mistaken for food by the aquatic animals. They eat it and die eventually. For instance, a dolphin died due to a plastic ring stuck in its mouth. It couldn’t open its mouth due to that and died of starvation. Thus, we see how innocent animals are dying because of plastic pollution.

In short, we see how plastic pollution is ruining everyone’s life on earth. We must take major steps to prevent it. We must use alternatives like cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we are purchasing plastic, we must reuse it. We must avoid drinking bottled water which contributes largely to plastic pollution. The government must put a plastic ban on the use of plastic. All this can prevent plastic pollution to a large extent.

FAQs on Plastic Pollution Essay

Q.1 Why is plastic pollution on the rise?

A.1 Plastic Pollution is on the rise because nowadays people are using plastic endlessly. It is very economical and easily available. Moreover, plastic does not dissolve in the land or water, it stays for more than hundred years contributing to uprise of plastic pollution.

Q.2 How is plastic pollution impacting the earth?

A.2 Plastic pollution is impacting the earth in various ways. Firstly, it is polluting our water. This causes a shortage of clean water and thus we cannot have enough supply for all. Moreover, it is also ruining our soils and lands. The soil fertility is depleting and disease-carrying insects are collecting in landfills of plastic.

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Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Plastic bags are a major contributor to plastic pollution – a kind of pollution that is deteriorating our environment. It is a threat to life on Earth. Plastic bags must be banned in order to reduce pollution. Plastic bags cause land, air as well as water pollution. This is the reason why these have been banned in various countries. However, these are still being widely used in most parts of the world and are proving to be hazardous for the environment. Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned.

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Long and Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags Should be Banned in English

Here are essays on why plastic bags should be banned of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exams and school assignments. You can select any why plastic bags should be banned essay as per your need and interest:

Short Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 1 (200 words)

Plastic bags are readily available in the market and are used widely. These are especially popular at the grocery stores since they come handy in carrying the grocery items. Available in various sizes these are quite economical and also easy to carry. However, the cost we are paying for using these bags is overlooked. These bags are costing us our beautiful environment. Yes! The plastic bags that we use in our everyday life are hazardous for the environment.

The problem is much serious than it appears. Researchers claim that plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution. These are also responsible for making our agricultural lands infertile and a cause of a number of other serious problems. Many countries have banned the use of plastic bags in order to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. India is also among one of these countries.

Our country has banned the use of plastic bags in many states. However, the implementation of this rule hasn’t been proper. These are still available in the market. The retailers provide goods in these bags and the shoppers gladly take their stuff in these easy to carry bags. It is time each one of us must understand the severity of the issue and stop the use of plastic bags.

Essay on Environmental Pollution and Plastic – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

The degree of pollution in our environment is rising by the day. It has increased rapidly with the advent of industrial revolution. The growing number of factories and vehicles on our planet has increased the pollution level many folds in the last few decades. While the smoke from the vehicles and factories has polluted the air adversely making it difficult to breathe, the industrial and residential waste has contributed majorly to the water and land pollution giving way to several serious illnesses.

Plastic: Major Cause of Environmental Pollution

Among other things, plastic plays a major role in pollution in today’s time. Plastic which is derived from fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum is being widely used for manufacturing numerous things including plastic bags, kitchenware, furniture, doors, sheeting, packing material, counter tops and what not. People prefer items made of plastic as these are light weight compared to wood or metal items and are also quite economical.

The increasing use of plastic is increasing the amount of plastic waste which is hard to dispose of. Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance. It breaks into pieces, deteriorates over the time but does not become one with the soil. Plastic remains in the environment for hundreds of years and adds to environmental pollution. It goes into the landfills and leaks pollutants that damage soil and water. Plastic cannot even be disposed of by burning as on burning it produces poisonous gases that can cause serious diseases. Disposing plastic has thus become a big challenge today.

Plastic bags that form a major part of the plastic pollution are thus being banned in many countries. However, merely banning plastic bags shall not help. Ban must be imposed on other plastic items as well to bring down the environmental pollution.

It is high time we must understand the intensity at which plastic is destroying our environment and making life difficult for plants, animals, marine creatures as well as human beings. The use of plastic products must be lowered to ensure a cleaner environment.

Essay on Why Plastic Bags are Harmful for Health – Essay 3 (400 words)

Plastic bags that we commonly use in our everyday lives are a threat for life on Earth. These have slowly swept into our lives and are becoming a major cause of illness in animals as well as human beings.

Plastic Bags: Harmful for Human Health

Plastic bags are extremely harmful for human health. From the time these are manufactured till the time these are disposed of as waste – plastic bags do nothing but harm the human health adversely.

The toxic chemicals produced while giving plastic bags their desirable form have a negative impact on the health of those involved in their making. Plastic bags are widely used for food packaging. Researchers claim that some toxic elements from the plastic enter the food items packed in them. Plastic bags thus contaminate the food rather than keeping it safely packed. Many cases of plastic causing harm to the food have been reported. Eating such food can cause food poisoning, intestinal problems and other health hazards. Plastic bags can even lead to suspected human carcinogen.

Apart from this, plastic bags produce immense amount of non-biodegradable waste. This waste remains on earth for almost 500 years. This waste material enters water bodies and degrades the quality of drinking water. The quality of drinking water has gone down drastically in the last few decades. It is majorly because of the increasing amount of plastic bags being dumped in the rivers that are a source of drinking water. This has given way to various water-borne diseases.

Plastic Bags: Cause Serious Illness in Animals

Animals and marine creatures are worst effected by waste plastic bags. We throw the plastic bags thoughtlessly after use. These plastic bags form a major part of the garbage areas where the innocent animals go looking for food. Animals often eat small plastic content and even the entire plastic bags along with their food. Small plastic content accumulates in their body and causes health problems over the time. On the other hand, gulping the entire plastic bag in one go can suffocate them to death instantly.

It is the same with the marine creatures. The water bodies are polluted immensely because of plastic waste. It is deteriorating the quality of water that marine creatures drink. Fishes, turtles and other marine creatures also eat plastic content and sometimes gulp the entire plastic bag mistaking it for food and eventually fall ill.

Plastic bags are thus extremely harmful for health. It is in our favour to stop their use and switch to eco-friendly alternatives.

Essay on Problems Caused by Plastic Bags – Essay 4 (500 words)

Plastic bags are quite popular because these are light weight and thus easy to carry. Besides, unlike cloth or paper bags, we do not even require purchasing these as we go shopping. These are economical and thus given freely by the shopkeepers on the purchase of goods. It is because of all these reasons that plastic bags are preferred by both shopkeepers and shoppers. However, we need to look beyond momentary convenience and see the bigger picture.

Problems Caused by Plastic Bags

Here are some of the problems caused by plastic bags:

• Non Biodegradable

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Thus, disposing them of is the biggest challenge. They break down into small particles and enter the soil and water bodies however they do not decompose. They remain in the soil and water for hundreds of years and release toxic chemicals thereby damaging our beautiful planet.

• Deterioration of Environment

They are destroying the nature owing to their harmful effect. Plastic bags have become a major cause of land pollution today. The waste plastic bags are thrown into the landfills where they take almost around 500 years to decompose. These bags are light in weight and are easily carried by the wind to places far and wide. The litter caused by them on the land and the landfills causes land pollution. The plastic bags that enter the water bodies are a major cause of the water pollution. These are thus deteriorating our environment in every possible way.

• Harmful for Animals and Marine Creatures

Animals and marine creatures consume plastic particles along with their food. Plastic cannot be digested and thus gets trapped in their intestines. Large amount of plastic is accumulated in the intestines of various animals and sea creatures and results in serious health problems in them. Sometimes, animals gulp the entire plastic bag by mistake. This gets stuck in their throat or intestines and chokes them to death. Sea turtles are especially known to have the entire plastic bag in one go mistaking it for jelly fish. Research shows that waste plastic bags have been a major cause of untimely animal deaths.

• Cause of Illness in Humans

The production of plastic bags releases toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness among those involved in their production. Food packed in plastic bags can also cause health hazards. Besides, as mentioned above waste plastic bags cause environmental pollution. Polluted environment is a major cause of various diseases caught by the human beings.

• Clogged Sewage

Waste plastic bags often run down with water or are blown by the wind and get trapped in the drains and sewers. Clogged sewers and drains can be a threat to the human beings as well as animals especially during rains. The water gets accumulated as the drains are blocked because of plastic bags. This can result in flood like situation and disrupt the normal life of people.

We need to understand the problems being caused by the easy-to-carry plastic bags and stop their use. It is time our government should take some strict measures to ban plastic bags.

Long Essay on Why Plastic Bags should be Banned – Essay 5 (600 words)

Plastic bags are a major cause of environmental pollution. Plastic as a substance is non-biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become extremely essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin our planet completely.

Countries that have Banned Plastic Bags

Many countries around the globe have either put a ban on plastic bag or levi tax on it in order to restrict its usage. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, England, Germany, Hawaii, New York, Italy, Scotland, Rhode Island and Maine are among some of these. These measures have brought down the usage of plastic bags to a large extent. However, the problem hasn’t been solved completely because the implementation of these measures hasn’t been as successful.

Black market for plastic bags exists in some of these countries and these toxic bags are still being circulated illegally.

Reasons to Ban Plastic Bags

There are numerous reasons why the government of various countries have come up with strict measures to limit the use of plastic bags. Some of these include:

• Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely.
• Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water.
• Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile.
• Plastic bags are having negative impact on the human health.
• Plastic bags lead to drainage problem.

Public Must Support Plastic Bag Ban

While the Indian government has imposed ban on the usage of plastic bags in many states, people are still seen carrying these bags. Shopkeepers stop providing plastic bags to the shoppers for a few days every now and then but switch back to them as the government doesn’t take any strong measures to stop their production and distribution. It is time we must contribute our bit to make this ban a success.

We, the educated lot of the society must take it as our responsibility to stop the use of plastic bags and ensure that those around us stop using these too. Here is how we can support the government in this direction:

We are so accustomed to using plastic bags that it is difficult to stop their usage completely all of a sudden. In order to be successful in this mission, we must keep reminding ourselves about the harmful effects of the plastic bags on our nature and keep a tab on their use. Gradually, we will become habitual to doing without these bags.

• Seek Alternatives

There are many eco friendly alternatives to plastic bags. Instead of taking plastic bags to carry our grocery items and other stuff, we can carry a reusable jute or cloth bag each time we head to the market.

We should reuse the plastic bags we already have at home as many times as we can before throwing them away.

• Spread Awareness

While the government should spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags and the need to ban them by way of advertisements and hoardings, we can also spread awareness through word of mouth. We can educate our house help, car cleaner and kids in the society about the environmental problems caused due to plastic bags and urge them to stop its use.

The problems caused due to plastic bags have often been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. They keep using these bags owing to the convenience they offer completely ignoring the fact that these bags have adverse effect on the environment and are a threat to life on earth.

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How To Write An Essay On Plastic Ban In 10 Lines, Short And Long Form

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Plastic Ban For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on plastic ban for children, short essay on plastic ban in english for kids, long essay on plastic ban for children, what will your child learn from the plastic ban essay.

Essay writing is integral to all students’ school curriculum, including debates and speeches. An essay on plastic ban for classes 1, 2 and 3 teaches kids to gain awareness of the dangerous effects of environmental pollution caused by plastic and how it contributes to global climate change. Plastic pollution is disastrous for both humans and marine animals. Simply banning the use of plastic is not enough. Humans must alter their ways, follow the law, and treat mother nature kindly. Here are some crucial points on plastic pollution and sustainable practices that kids can incorporate in their essays, speeches, and, most importantly, in their ways of living.

Essay writing is a creative expression that needs proper research and practice for quality output. Here are some tips to remember while writing an essay on the ban of plastic for lower primary classes.

• The essay should have an introduction, body and conclusion.
• Gather relevant information on the topic and divide the essay into different paragraphs.
• Use simple language and avoid spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.
• The essay must have a clear line of argument.

The art of essay writing helps develop writing skills, vocabulary, and a definitive writing style. Here is an essay for classes 1 and 2 that can create positive curiosity among children and help to perfect future assignments.

• Widespread use of plastic causes severe illness for humans apart from environmental pollution.
• Plastic is not a natural element and is produced with the use of chemicals.
• Plastic decomposition is a slow process, so the waste remains on Earth for many years.
• Plastic waste released into water bodies causes immense water pollution.
• Plastic bags disposed of carelessly cause clogged drains and sewage lines.
• We should switch to reusable, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternatives to plastic.
• Waste plastic releases chemicals that enter the soil, making it infertile.
• The disposal of plastic indiscriminately will ruin our planet entirely.
• Banning plastic bags or levying taxes by the government can keep our environment safe.
• The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay on the Plastic ban is essential to every kid’s learning. Here is a short essay for class 1, 2 and 3 that can educate children on better use and waste management of plastic products.

Plastic bags have gained widespread popularity as they are important industrially and are very cheap. However, they are non-biodegradable and take a long time to break into small particles. Only a few plastic bags are recyclable, and they create environmental pollution. Even the energy used for plastic production negatively affects our environment. The burning of plastic bags emits gas and smoke that are immensely toxic. When plastics found in the garbage are consumed by animals and sea creatures, it results in the death and extinction of these species. These bags can even jam the sewage lines if not disposed of away properly. Preservation of food in plastic bags can not only intoxicate it but causes fatal diseases like cancer. Even doctors advise us not to regularly drink hot beverages in plastic glasses and polythene, which may affect our health. Plastic bags strewn all over the land causes a decline in soil fertility and productivity. Plastic waste also affects marine life and causes an imbalance in biodiversity. We can find plastic waste everywhere, and it causes severe damage to nature. Recycling plastic bags is a very complicated, lengthy, and costly process, but it is possible to reduce the harm to mother nature by reusing plastic objects instead of throwing them after single use or switch to sustainable materials. Understanding the same, the Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

An essay for class 3 helps to evaluate a student’s research, analytical, and writing skills. Here is a long essay on plastic ban in English for kids that would encourage them to appreciate nature and ways to protect it.

Plastic bags are most convenient to use when shopping, either for groceries or daily provisions. Being lightweight, easy to carry, and readily available in the market, they have become an essential part of everyday life. However, this convenience of using them comes at a very high cost that may affect the environment and our human health negatively. Littering by indiscriminate use of plastics can cause significant damage to our environment. It threatens our natural resources such as water, trees, and crops. As plastics get defragmented into small pieces, they get easily swept away into our soil and end up in oceans, then consumed by wildlife and marine life. Thereby, the number of animals and marine life reduces or becomes extinct. Approximately 46,000-1,000,000 fragments of plastics can be seen floating within every square mile of the oceans. The use of 1 trillion non-biodegradable plastic bags worldwide and the burning of plastic bags are damaging our earth. When these plastic bags are burned, they release toxic gases into the atmosphere, creating air pollution. Several cities around the world have banned the usage of plastic bags, while some have implemented legal procedures against the use of plastic bags. Countries like China, Bangladesh, and India have banned using and selling polythene bags with a thickness of fewer than 50 microns. Plastics are generally made from non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources like polypropylene (material made from petroleum and natural gas). With the extraction and production, greenhouse gases are created that contribute to global warming and climate change.

According to Green Tumble reports, almost 35% of turtles die by ingesting plastic. ABC News reports found 25 bags in the stomach of a crocodile in Australia. According to a National Geographic report, nearly 90% of seabirds consume discarded plastic. We all must collectively contribute to making the plastic ban a success. Only when an educated lot of society takes it up as their responsibility to support the campaign against plastic ban we can save the environment.

Problems Caused By Plastic and Plastic Bags

• Death Of Animals – Many animals ingest plastic bags every year. They die due to choking or other issues.
• Toxic Chemicals – Plastic bags contain chemicals including BPA that cause harmful diseases in humans like ulcers, obesity, and asthma.
• Clogging Of Drains – The drainage system is often blocked by the accumulation of plastics as
• Groundwater Pollution – Chemicals mixed into the groundwater reservoirs enter our bodies through the plants and drinking water.

What You Can Use Instead of Plastic

There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags like recycled paper bags, jute bags, reusable cotton tote bags, and glass bottles.

How Can We Minimise The Use of Plastic?

Plastic bags contribute to plastic pollution in our environment. Here are some ways to minimise the use of plastics.

• Many Indian states need to restrict the utilisation of plastics as directed by the government of India
• By following stricter measures and creating general awareness, we can reduce the use of plastics.
• More fines must be imposed on retailers for selling plastic bags.
• The public should be fined for carrying plastic bags.

Plastic Ban In India

The Indian government has banned plastics to save our beautiful mother earth. At first, Sikkim went completely plastic-free, and then Himachal Pradesh became the first state to restrict plastic and polythene bag in 2009. In 2016, Karnataka banned all single-use plastic items, while Delhi banned all disposable plastic items in 2017. Later, Bihar, Tamilnadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand implemented the ban in 2019. The Indian government has issued guidelines to states to ban single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022.

Your child will understand why they should not use plastic and why the plastic ban is important for our environment. They will also get aware of various ways to stop plastic usage.

Our throw-away culture causes plastic pollution in oceans and impacts biodiversity. We should find alternative and sustainable solutions to make our planet plastic-free for a better tomorrow.

Essay On Plastic Pollution for Kids How to Write An Essay On Land Pollution for Children Essay on Environmental Pollution for Lower Primary Classes

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A ban on plastic wet wipes may lead to more river pollution, not less

Lecturer in Geography, King's College London

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The UK government recently announced a plan to ban plastics from wet wipes , causing my fellow river activists to release a collective sigh of relief . However, although a general election has put the idea on hold for now, and it’s not clear if an incoming Labour government would adopt the same policy, I predict that such a “win” would actually make the problem of river contamination worse.

The reason for this is one of public perception. By eliminating what many believe is the problem with wipes – plastic – I suspect we would not only see a spike in sales, but an increase in flushed wipes. This is because people would be reassured that buying and using wipes is safe. Framing them as plastic-free and biodegradable sends a message that it’s ok to flush wipes. The truth is it isn’t – mainly because the release of microplastics is only one of the many negatives associated with wet wipes in sewage systems and rivers.

A key reason people use wet wipes is that they are much more durable than standard tissues – mostly to avoid the potential for a finger to stick through when cleaning up a mess. Biodegradable or flushable wipes are typically made up of nonwoven cellulose fibres from organic sources such as wood and cotton. This in theory seems harmless, but the very nature of durability means that regardless of whether they contain plastic or not, they will not break down easily.

Imagine for instance a fallen tree. Although it is technically biodegradeable, it can still block a road or river as it slowly decomposes – it doesn’t simply disappear once it hits the ground. This same durability can lead to unseen consequences, including sewage blockages.

Wipes get caught up in many stages of the sewage system, mostly in filtering screens and in pipe bends. These trapped wipes collect other things people shouldn’t be flushing, including condoms and grease or fat, creating solid masses in the sewage system that produce toxic and highly explosive gases as they rot underground.

This is a worldwide problem , with blockages reported everywhere from Canada to Australia . In the UK, where I live, Thames Water alone spends up to £100 million a year clearing up these blockages, where wet wipes make up 90% of the blockage material. Aside from these costs slowly being reflected in ever increasing water bills, blockages lead to reduced holding capacity. This means more sewage, and wet wipes, are dumped directly into rivers without treatment – a very serious problem.

Once wipes enter the river system they cause a whole new set of issues. In wet wipe production a range of chemicals are added to increase durability, soften the texture and make them antibacterial . These chemicals stay on the wipes long after they are flushed and are toxic to fish and other river critters. Because wipes are heavier, they sink to the bottom of rivers, and stick together creating huge wet wipe mounds up to a meter in height . These mounds disrupt the natural flow of the river, trapping sediment and increasing the risk of flooding.

Generally, biodegradation is a very long process – hundreds of years – but to further confound the issue, one of the chemicals that is present in wipes is specifically targeted at reducing degradation , ensuring that they have a long shelf-life. For wipes to biodegrade they need to be in a warm environment, and be exposed to air and sunlight. With an average yearly temperature of around 12°C, any biodegradable materials trapped in the sediment of the Thames are very well preserved – I once found an entire Victorian leather shoe on the Thames foreshore.

A similar example of misguided reassurance is the introduction of cigarette filters in the late 1950s. Filters were a marketing initiative to address declining sales due to rising health concerns. By framing the filter as a means to make cigarettes “safer” sales rebounded and labels of “light”, “natural” or “mild” cigarettes are responsible for reducing perceptions of risk – a deadly way of convincing the public that this is a healthier way to keep up the habit.

Just to clarify, this isn’t just an environmental issue. The UK needs clean rivers because they are its primary source of drinking water, and they are already under pressure from climate change and increased drought . The country’s Environment Agency warns that London could run out of water within 25 years – it simply cannot afford to contaminate what little resources remain.

The UK flushes 7 million wet wipes every day, and although eliminating plastics from their production does stop the flow of microplastics into rivers, it does nothing to address the wider problems of sewage and the contamination of drinking water resources. In reality, by selling them as safe, people are going to buy and flush more of them, because the impression is that this won’t have an environmental impact.

Initiatives like this plastic ban are prioritised as they develop the impression of progress in the short term. In reality they can act as pacifiers and do little to address the full environmental impact across the whole lifecycle of products that are labelled as safe. Unfortunately, this short-sightedness comes at the detriment of water security, ultimately making the problem worse despite the public thinking they are helping the cause.

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Senate in Massachusetts passes bill curtailing use of plastics including bags, straws

FILE - A runner grabs a bottle of water at the athlete’s village prior to the start of the 116th running of the Boston Marathon, in Hopkinton, Mass., Monday, April 16, 2012. On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the state Senate in Massachusetts passed a wide-ranging bill curtailing the use of plastics, including barring the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)

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BOSTON (AP) — The state Senate in Massachusetts has passed a wide-ranging bill curtailing the use of plastics, including barring the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies.

The bill, approved Thursday, also bans carry-out plastic bags at retailers statewide and require stores to charge 10 cents for recycled paper bags. It also requires straws and plasticware to be available only by request and creates a program to recycle large items like car seats. It now heads to the House.

The move comes as a growing number of states are address concerns about plastics that harm wildlife, pollute waterways and clog landfills. Each day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes, according to the U.N. Environment Programme. People are increasingly breathing, eating and drinking tiny plastic particles.

“This vital legislation is another step forward towards eradicating plastics, a top environmental offender, in our everyday life,” Sen. Michael Rodrigues, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Environmentalists welcomed the move, which would make Massachusetts the 13th state to pass a plastic bag ban and builds on local initiatives in Massachusetts. Communities representing 70% of the state’s population already have bans.

It also codified an executive order signed last year by Gov. Maura Healey, which she says made Massachusetts the first state to ban the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies.

“State leaders have chosen to take a big step toward reducing waste and protecting our neighbors and local wildlife from the dangers of excessive plastic usage,” Sierra Club Massachusetts State Political Director Jess Nahigian, said in a statement. “Plastics harm our ecosystems and communities. Cutting down on plastics is a necessary step toward achieving our state climate goals and creating a more sustainable home for future generations of Massachusetts residents.”

But the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, which promotes fiscal responsibility, said the ban is part of a larger trend by the Senate to limit choices for consumers.

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Essay on Plastic Ban in India

Plastic ban in india, challenge, suggestion and alternatives.

The issue of plastic pollution has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, and India is no exception. In an effort to combat this problem, the Indian government has implemented a ban on certain single-use plastic products. However, the effectiveness of this ban is a matter of debate.

However, let us understand all about Plastic pollution and the need for a Plastic ban.

What is Single-Use Plastic?

Harmful effects of Plastic

The decision to ban Plastic

Challenges to curb

Alternatives

Suggestions

Initiatives

With Prime Minister Narender Modi’s declaration on the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth, to make India free of Single-Use Plastic completely to combat pollution by 2022 a nationwide ban on the same came into existence in October 2019.

Plastic products are designed and made to be used for one time and are supposed to be thrown after use. They are disposable items like plastic bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, straws, polythene bags, etc.

What is the need to ban?

1. Because of the harmful gases they produce. 2. Inability to decompose 3. Soil Contamination 4. Health Hazards it poses 5. Environmental Pollution

Plastic is harmful to the environment, animals, humans and the entire composition of the earth including air, water, greenery, living beings. As per the world wildlife fund (WWF) It is a non-biodegradable product and it takes years to disintegrate. It is next to impossible to decompose it as the process takes thousands of years.

This gets collected on the earth in the form of debris and wreckage and contaminates the soil.

The chemicals used to produce plastic are very harmful and keep on getting transmitted to animal tissues and the human food chain.

Birds and animals often take the debris of plastic bags and wrappers as food in confusion and become a victim of fatal health hazards.

It goes to fish in thousands of tons of quantity and from there reaches the food chain to marine mammals. According to scientists a large amount of plastic has been found in the intestine of oceanic mammals which reaches the human chain causing fatal diseases like cancer in humans.

WWF claims that a person could be consuming 5 grams of plastic a week. It can kill 1 million seabirds every year and around 700 species around the world get affected because of it.

According to a UN Plastic collective report an estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s and is still disturbing the land and its dwellers because of hazardous noxious effects.

According to a report India alone generates 9.46 tonnes of plastic waste every year. Out of which 40% remains uncollected. This has hazardous effects not just on human health rather for the whole environment.

The country prepared itself for the new rules as One India – Pollution Free India. Almost every state tried to put a curb on the use of plastic and search has been going on to find an alternative to plastic usage.

About 18 States Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat have banned ‘one-time use and throw away plastic items’ like cutlery, plates, cups, straws, etc. Sikkim initiated this ban in 1998. A major landslide in the state occured because of heavy rainfall. This forced the state Government to ban single-use plastic, as according to experts Plastic waste blocked the system.To implement the policy the government in the state ran educative campaign to educate the people ,fines were imposed for using plastic to stop its usage.All these steps helped the citizens of the state to accept this ban.

Across the country, for the time being the government asked the states to put a stop on storing, manufacturing and using some single-use plastic products such as polythene bags.

As of now the government is promoting voluntary steps by educating the people. Very strict actions are yet not being taken.

This movement is a challenge because of the non-availability of effective alternatives to plastic containers and several economic issues. According to a news report, Hiten Bheda, Chairman of the Environment Committee of the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association, says India’s plastic industry recorded an annual revenue worth Rs 3.5-lakh crore in FY19. This was spread across 50,000 processing units, the bulk of these being small and medium enterprises. It is one of the fastest-growing industries in India as it sees its fortunes linked to the growth of every other industry. These units, according to Bheda, consume around 22 million metric tonnes per annum of plastic raw material; including recycled plastics (roughly about 8 million metric tonnes recycled plastic). Besides, some part of the total raw plastic material is also exported — it was to the tune of around $4.5 billion in FY19, while the exports of processed plastic products were at around $6.5 billion, says Bheda. On the share of single-use plastics, he says, while the exact share of single-use plastics is difficult to estimate, it could be less than 10 percent of the total plastic processed by these 50,000 odd units.

There is a demand to exempt Pharmaceuticals, multilayered sachets, and health products from this ban to avoid any disruption in the supply chains.

There are many suggested alternatives to plastic such as glass, cardboard but they have their own ill effects on the environment. Glass leaves carbon footprints and uses a lot of energy and is not cost-effective, paper and cardboard usage means cutting trees etc. So every alternative has its challenges.

Search is still going on to find an effective alternative.

First thing is that merely putting a curb is not enough we have to find an effective alternative and second is that we have to find segregation and waste management ways which are eco-friendly. Recycling processes can also be one way.

Educating and sensitizing people can be done easily and it is being done. The challenge is for everything we have to create funds again.

Indian Government, its state governments are putting a lot of efforts to curb this hazard and in response to their efforts few companies like amazon have also come forward to support this cause. According to news in Business Today:

Amazon India tells Business Today that “we have been working towards reducing our single use plastic consumption over the last year and we have significantly reduced dependence on this. It constitutes less than 7 percent of total packaging material and by June 2020, the aim is to completely eliminate single-use plastic in packaging. By the year-end any Amazon package received will have no single use plastic but paper instead.

 Conclusion

On the surface, it appears that the ban is having a positive impact. Many retailers and street vendors have stopped providing plastic bags to customers, and there have been reports of a decrease in the amount of plastic litter in some areas. Additionally, several states have introduced their own plastic bans and some large corporations have pledged to reduce their plastic footprint.

However, enforcement of the ban remains a challenge. Plastic usage continues to be high in several areas and the penalties for violating the ban are often not severe enough to deter violators. Additionally, there are concerns that the ban may disproportionately impact low-income communities and small businesses.

Furthermore, there is a lack of alternatives for several plastic products and the lack of infrastructure to manage and recycle the plastic waste generated in the country. This means that despite the ban, plastic pollution continues to be a major problem in India.

In conclusion, the ban on single-use plastic in India is a step in the right direction , but it is not a complete solution to the problem of plastic pollution. The government and other stakeholders need to work together to ensure effective enforcement of the ban and provide alternatives to plastic products. Additionally, more efforts need to be made to manage and recycle plastic waste .

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