Shreveport Green hosts event to collect unwanted plastic bags
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Shreveport Green hosted a special event Tuesday, Nov. 15 to collect unwanted plastic bags in an attempt to help the environment.
The nonprofit’s Neighborhood & Education Program hosted the plastic bag collection drive-thru event at Lowe’s on Youree Drive on America Recycles Day, which is observed annually to raise awareness about recycling.
According to Shreveport Green, Plastic bags are useful and convenient to use but also bring about a number of problems for people, marine animals and the environment.
Source: KSLA
HOW MUCH PLASTIC DOES THE WORLD PRODUCE?
Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.
Source: Blue and Green tomorrow
HOW PLASTIC BAGS CAUSE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT ?
They end up in the stormwater drains of the city, which clog and result in flooding.
They degrade and release tiny plastic fragments into lakes and rivers, where marine life eats them.
They discharge harmful chemicals into the land and waterways while taking 500 years or longer to completely decompose.
Bags that end up in rivers and lakes suffocate and kill aquatic life.
Bags can be seen as litter along streets
“We want to encourage citizens to recycle all of those plastic bags that they have stored at home. Often, people just throw them away. We ask that they recycle them and take them out of the garbage stream,” said Casaundra Calloway, Neighborhood & Education Program director.
Those who dropped their bags off during the event received two free reusable shopping bags. Shreveport Green says using just one reusable bag while shopping saves two plastic bags.
The event was made possible through grants from Keep Louisiana Beautiful and Capital One.
MEASURES TO LIMIT THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS
Using reusable shopping bags: If we want to prevent the use of plastic bags, we must first have a practical solution that is to find a bag that can replace plastic bags, which must be convenient to use; reasonable price as well as limit the negative impact on the environment. In that situation, reusable bags are considered an optimal solution that can meet all of those criteria at the same time. Reusable bags are bags with durable and environmentally friendly materials, and can be reused many times for different purposes. Currently, using environmentally friendly bags is gradually becoming a trend and popular bags are available on the market such as: Paper bags, PP woven bags, reusable PP non-woven bags, Canvas bags, Biodegradable, biodegradable plastic bags…
Encouraging distributors and retailers to participate in the program to reduce the distribution of plastic bags: This solution aims to mobilize distributors/retailers such as supermarket chains, large commercial centers,.. then expand the participants to participate in a volunteer program to minimize the distribution of plastic bags. The units participating in the program commit and have specific plans to reduce the free distribution of plastic bags for customers and periodically report the results according to the guidance of the environmental management agency. In return, these units will enjoy a number of benefits such as being included in the list of "Green Enterprises", being introduced in propaganda programs to reduce the use of plastic bags, etc.
Building a system to collect, recycle and reuse plastic bags: To increase the collection and recycling of plastic bags, the management agency needs to coordinate with markets, supermarkets, commercial centers, residential areas, apartment buildings... arrange collection points exclusively for plastic bags. In the near future, in the first phase, it is possible to coordinate the arrangement of collection points at supermarkets and commercial centers. Customers can be encouraged to hand in plastic bags by calculating reward points in the coupon according to the number of bags delivered. After that, the collection points will be gradually expanded throughout the areas. The operation and maintenance of these collection points can be entrusted to plastic bag recycling units. By adjusting the coupon's reward points in accordance with the quantity of delivered plastic bags, customers can be motivated to turn in their used bags. The collecting points will thereafter be gradually spread out over the areas. These collection locations can be operated and maintained by plastic bag recycling facilities.
TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS
