Bag of Tricks

I. Why are plastic bags so common?
People use them for the transportation of goods. It is considered to be one of the most consumer item in Earth, and an "icon of convenience culture". We use them as an alternative for paper bags, because with paper bags we kill trees.

II. In what other ways is plastic used?
In bottles, toys, plastic wraps, bags, etc.

III. What are the benefits of plastic bags?
They help us for the transportation of grocery, and other materials. They cost under 2 cents, while paper bags cost 4-6 cents. They are easy to carry and to store.

IV. What are the dangers of plastic bags? Hundreds of animals (including birds, sea turtles and marine mammals) die because of eating or getting entangled with plastic bags. They are made of petroleum and natural gas and also contain lead, a toxin. (in the inks and colorants of the bags). The air blows plastic bags away, and they can take them to trees or fences, and worst of all, to the oceans. One of the main and most important dangers of plastic bags are the ones that stay on the floors of the sea, killing animals such as shrimp and sponges. Plastic doesn't biodegrade. V. What has been done so far?
Only 1% of the bags are recycled world wide. In some places of the United States outlawed the use of paper bags, and with 40% of the materials are recycled in some grocery stores and pharmacies. In other places of the United States are considering taking drastic legislative action against the bags. In Blangladesh, because of the choking of the drainage systems, plastic bags have been banned since 2002. There is also the idea of taking your own bag to the grocery store.

VI. Has it been successful? Why or why not?
Yes, it has been successful but it is only 1% of all the plastic bags that end up in the natural habitats and affect all the animals in different ways; even though, they ay that every effort has been a big mass of confusion. The reason why the "blue bins" don´t work, is that all the job that the citizens do by putting their platic bags and materials in these bins, becomes nothing because they mix it with the regular trash. The best thing to do to recycle bags, is to take them back to the place were they were given to you.

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a. What are some of the potential benefits of charging fees for and/or banning plastic bags?

- Reduse pollution by encouraging reusable bags.

- They can reduce street litter, ocean pollution and carbon emissions.

- The proposal of Connecticut can bring a saving of 10 million for the Environmental Protection Department.

- The money that can be raised, can help to cleen up landscapes such as Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay.

b. What are some of the potential drawbacks of such programs?

- There is not enough support to put fees or to ban plastic bags.

- People have different goals based on the current economic situation.

- No state has imposed a fee or a ban.

- Some say that fees will increase costs and hurt businesses.

c. Which benefits and drawbacks seem the most compelling? Why?

- The saving one city can have in a year for important benefit.

- Some percent of the pollution can be diminished.

- There is no support from many cities.

- Some of these changes can affect bag businesses and current economic situation.

d. Would you support a local law charging fees for (or banning) plastic bags? Why or why not?
Yes, because from one little thing you can save the environment. People wont start to recycle or to use this laws, beacuse they think that they are small things that also can affect more the economy. Lots of small things can also make a difference and its not that hard to take a reusable or cloth bag to carry the groceries.

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1. Do you agree with this new law? Why or why not?
Yes, because it could be a good start of recycling and taking care of Mexico´s pollution. Its a good idea to give plastic bag industry one year to come up with new technology. 20 million of plastic bags are used in one day in Mexico City and the Metropolitan Area that affect world wide.

2. What has been done so far?
Nothing. As always, people have different opinions so they are planning it, seeing all the benefits that could bring. Also BIMBO is making an effort to use biodegrable bags in their packaging. This could reduce part of the damage if all of the plastic bags are like this.

3. What needs to be done to enforce such a law?
Talk with people, hear opinions and take care of every single detail; percent of people loosing jobs, for example. Also take about the fees and jail time.

4. What campaigns would you suggest? As Alfredo Lopez Machorro says "Instead of a ban, "We need to educate consumers to recycle." We could use biodegrable or cloth bags and would be much better.