Make the Right Choice
Reusable Plastic Bags
Although reusable plastic bags may be an improvement over traditional grocery bags, since they are reusable and have a positive impact on the current landfill problem, they are not entirely environmentally safe. Production of any plastic bag (reusable or not) requires vast amounts of oil which produces large amounts of green house gases. The production of reusable plastics if made from recycled material or not, go through multiple melting stages to create or recycle the reusable plastic bags inturn creating higher levels of green house gases, therefore they do not solve the whole problem.
Paper Bags
Paper bags are also an improvement to the current landfill problem but reducing one problem to develop another makes no sense. Production of paper bags eliminates numerous amounts of trees which inturn have negative effects on the environment. Paper bags decompose faster but also require much energy during their production.
So which to use?
Neither! Both plastic and paper bags use up valuable natural resources, have negative impacts on wildlife and pollute our environment. Reusable plastic bags create large amounts of green house gases, from recycling to production. Both create significant toxic by-products during their lifecycles. Neither is effectively recycled.