The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. annually (that's over 1 billion per day with an annual cost to U.S. retailers of approximately $4 billion - which is passed on to consumers in higher prices. Plastic bags DO NOT biodegrade, they photo-degrade (breaking into smaller and smaller pieces); a process that takes up to 1000 years. Hundreds of thousands of Sea Turtles, Whales and Marine Mammals die every year from ingesting plastic bags which contain poisonous toxins. Less than 5% of plastic bags are recycled; in fact it is more expensive to recycle plastic bags than to produce new ones. We must ban the use of harmful plastic bags, especially as there are simple ready alternatives such as reusable bags. This convenience is contaminating the oceans, the life force of this planet. This is a simple change which will have dramatically positive results for our planet.
