Should Plastic Bags Be Banned by Galbraith - Article Example

Plastic shopping sacks should/should not be legally banned from grocery and other retail stores. Individuals around the world are still in disagreement as to whether plastic bags should or should not be banned from grocery and other retail stores. Both groups support their stand by the provision of strong arguments, which make it hard to side with either of the groups. Discussed below are some of the reasons cited in an attempt to shed some light on the issue in contention (Galbraith 1). Those in agreement with the proposition that plastic bags ought to be banned from grocery and retails stores base their arguments on the destructive nature these products have on the environment.

They claim that the non-biodegradable nature of plastic bags causes pollution of the environment depending on the area of disposal. The synthetic materials used to manufacture plastic bags take an unusually long time to decompose; therefore, they end up polluting the environment by harming surrounding vegetation (Galbraith 1). For example, plastic bags disposed in dumpsites produce contaminants while gradually decomposing, which prove harmful to the plants growing in the soil. These non-organic contaminants might prove fatal to the plants because of their toxic nature which sometimes cuts off the supply of oxygen to the plants.

In the case of animals and human beings especially children, consumption of little pieces of plastic bags might lead to indigestion. In the worst case scenarios, unsupervised children face the risk of suffocating while playing with plastic bags. Therefore, manufacturers caution individuals to ensure they keep plastic bags in areas where children cannot access easily. They further argue that, plastic bags lead to the consumption of natural resources at an alarming rate. This is because, manufacturers must continually search for extra raw materials from other countries to ensure they meet the high demand created by individuals who use plastic bags for grocery or retail shopping.

This leads to the depletion of natural resources, which includes petroleum products. These petroleum products must be transported via sea of which might pose other negative consequences if an accident occurs (Galbraith 1). Oil spillages in the sea result, in the death of aquatic plants and animals. This is because the oil floating on the water forms a non-porous film which cuts off the supply of air from aquatic life forms. The costs incurred in cleaning up oil spillages are also extremely large.

For example, BP/Shell Petroleum Company filed for bankruptcy recently because of the astronomical costs incurred during the cleaning process of the oil spillage in the sea and the law suits files against the company. In addition to the above negative effects, supporters of banning the use of plastic bags, further posit that these products destroy the aesthetic appearance of sceneries in which the disposal of the plastic bags occurs. On the other hand, those against the banning of plastic bags from day-to-day usage argue that plastic bags offer convenience to shoppers.

This is because they are readily available at remarkably low costs compared to the disposable, organic bags introduced to replace the plastic bags. They also argue that the choice of whether to use plastic bags should be left to an individual. This is because people have different preferences; therefore, they ought to be left to decide on what they consider as being best for them (Galbraith 1). Companies involved in the manufacturing of plastic bags advocate for the use of their products. This is because, banning of these products affects their business.

It will also lead to enormous losses because they will no longer be allowed to produce their core product. This will cause a ripple effect on other aspects of the economy, for example, employees of such companies remain unemployed. Therefore, the solutions offered by these companies include; raising awareness on the recycling of plastic bags. This helps conserve the raw materials while at the same time providing permanent solutions to the problem of disposing of these products. This will ensure the aesthetic appearance of places remains attractive without causing any ruin by the unsightly appearance of plastic bags littered all over by people.

In addition, others advance that increasing the taxes on plastic bags helps to decrease the use of plastic bags without necessarily having to ban them (Galbraith 1). In conclusion, for both parties, the arguments presented make sense to bystanders. Therefore, finding a balance which will ensure both sides feel that the appraisal of their concerns occurred. Meaning, both sides must be able to come to a compromise with regard to the issue at hand, because leaning towards one side fails to address equally serious concerns raised by the other side (Galbraith 1).

Work Cited Galbraith, Kate. "Should Plastic Bags Be Banned?" The New York Times (2012 ): 1.