The following article was written by
Megan Bedard from Peta.org
They
amass in the ocean, forming giant wads of toxic material and killing sea animals who eat
them.
They clog up drainage systems and sit in landfills for centuries. Experts
estimate that we use between 500 billion and 1 trillion of them a year globally. What is this atrocity? Plastic bags.
Conveniently disposable yet durable, plastic bags are everywhere. Trouble is,
their most sellable qualities—durability and ubiquity—are what make them an
environmental nightmare.
So
it was good news this week when Hawaii decided as a state to say "No"
to plastic bags.
The
Aloha State, known for its gorgeous blue waters teeming with flora and fauna,
has decided to protect its ecosystem by banning plastic bags statewide.
Plenty
of cities and counties have already done as much, but this is the first time that
a state has enacted a ban.
For
animals in and around Hawaii, this is especially good news. Conservationists estimate that at
least 100,000 mammals and birds die every year as a result of coming into
contact with plastic bags. Fish fare even worse: Conservationists suspect that they
die by the millions each year because of plastic bags.
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