In the United States the paper industry is the largest user, per ton of product, of industrial process water and the third largest industrial consumer of energy. During the year 2008 in the United States, paper and paperboard accounted for the largest portion (34 percent) of the municipal waste stream, and 25 percent of discards after recovery of materials for recycling and composting. Once in a landfill, paper has the potential to decompose and produce methane, a greenhouse gas with 21 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide. Transportation throughout the system also has significant environmental impacts.
How Are Paper Bags Harmful to the Environment?
o More than 60% of paper bags end up in a landfill. The paper grocery bags in landfills that do decompose release methane gas, which contributes significantly to global warming (23 times more than carbon dioxide over a 100 year horizon).
o Paper is degradable, but it cannot completely break down in modern landfills because of the lack of water, light, oxygen, and other necessary elements. About 95% of garbage is buried beneath layers of soil that make it difficult for air and sunlight to reach it.
Light breaks plastic down so it photo-degrades rather than biodegrades. Estimates say that this process can take up to 500 or even 1000 years in landfills.
Recycling difficulties: Although for the most part, plastic takes less energy to recycle than paper, plastic bags are a frustrating recycling dilemma. The curbside recycling in many communities is not meant for plastic bags because they can screw up the plant's machines. Instead, some stores offer bins in which to properly recycle plastic bags.
o Paper is degradable, but it cannot completely break down in modern landfills because of the lack of water, light, oxygen, and other necessary elements. About 95% of garbage is buried beneath layers of soil that make it difficult for air and sunlight to reach it.
Light breaks plastic down so it photo-degrades rather than biodegrades. Estimates say that this process can take up to 500 or even 1000 years in landfills.
Recycling difficulties: Although for the most part, plastic takes less energy to recycle than paper, plastic bags are a frustrating recycling dilemma. The curbside recycling in many communities is not meant for plastic bags because they can screw up the plant's machines. Instead, some stores offer bins in which to properly recycle plastic bags.
Litter the Landscape
o The use of toxic chemicals during paper bag production pollutes the environment, causing acid rain, water pollution, and much more.
Littered plastic bags are everywhere today -- blown around streets, stuck in fences and trees. And, aside from their use in the occasional art film (à la American Beauty) they can be an eyesore and a pain.
Littered plastic bags are everywhere today -- blown around streets, stuck in fences and trees. And, aside from their use in the occasional art film (à la American Beauty) they can be an eyesore and a pain.
Kill Animals
o About 14 million trees are cut down annually for the paper bag production, DESTROYING THE HOMES OF MILLIONS OF ANIMALS
Plastic waste is deceptive for birds and other wildlife, who mistake it for food. And you can imagine how eating plastic messes with an animal's intestine. As a result, animals can die of starvation. To prevent this, perhaps paper is the better choice, especially if you live on the coast, as your plastic waste is more likely to make its way to marine life and sea birds
Plastic waste is deceptive for birds and other wildlife, who mistake it for food. And you can imagine how eating plastic messes with an animal's intestine. As a result, animals can die of starvation. To prevent this, perhaps paper is the better choice, especially if you live on the coast, as your plastic waste is more likely to make its way to marine life and sea birds
So, What Can Be Done?
These factors have made the question of which is greener mind-boggling. The EPA has admitted that not only is the question unresolved, but it doesn't consider the use of plastic bags a major issue. Most environmental groups say that it's best to avoid the choice altogether -- instead we should diligently reuse bags.