General information on the recent plastic bag ban in our country.
World countries have been prohibiting the plastic bags which cause harm for both environment and health, one by one. For example, the UK started to charge a 5p (0.23 TL) fee per plastic bag and achieved to reduce its consumption by 95%. In our country, in order to create a deterrent effect before the ban is brought into force, plastic bags are recently been charged in various stores and markets. Cloth bag prices and pricing all aim to reduce the consumption of disposable plastic bags and encourage the use of more durable, environmentally friendly and reusable carrying bags. Considering the environmental damage caused by plastic bags, we shall in fact realize that it is pretty late for this ban. Let's have a close look at those harmful effects together;
- The monthly consumption of plastic bags in an individual market is 10 tons. With such a penal sanctioning, it will go down to as low as 500 kg. Thus, excellent economic and environmental gains shall be achieved.
- A plastic bag dissolves in at least 800 years on land and in at least 400 years in the sea.
- An average of 100 thousand birds die each year due to harmful effects caused by plastic bags, and many more whales and sea turtles unfortunately end up the same.
- When a plastic bag dissolves in the soil, it poisons the soil, kills the plants, pollutes the air as a result of the low temperature burns together with the methane gas formed in the garbage, when exposed to the sunlight, releases the chemicals into the atmosphere, which are extremely dangerous for mankind and environmental health.
- Plastic bags are produced worldwide at a rate of 1 million items per minute and approximately 1 trillion items per year. The fact that every year such a huge number of plastic bags integrate with "nature", means that the reign of plastics will continue even after people have disappeared.
- Only 1 percent of the bags are recycled. Remaining 99 percent remains in nature for centuries.
- Nonwoven bags are used on average 104 times, and since they have high financial value, it will be much easier to recycle them after use than plastic bags.
Based on the above given information, we leave you with the choice and we believe that you will make the right decision.
21.09.2017