Say No To Plastic Bags

Say No To To Plastic Plas tic Bags The Shocking Facts About Polyethylene Bags

We can lessen our environmental footprint by minimizing our use of plastic shopping  bags. If we do so, our world will become a cleaner, safer place for all living things

Consider the Following Shocking Facts About Plastic Shopping Bags: • • • • • • •

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Plastic bags are made of polyethylene Polyethylene is a petroleum product Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain Approx Approximat imately ely 1 billion billion seabird seabirdss and mammals mammals die per year by ingestin ingesting g plastic bags Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags. Thes Th esee anim animal alss suff suffer er a pain painfu full deat death, h, the the plas plasti ticc wrap wrapss arou around nd thei theirr intestines or they choke to death Plastic bag choke landfills Plastic bags are carried by the wind into forests, ponds, rivers, and lakes

There are Alternatives to Plastic Bags. All of This Death and Pollution is Unnecessary Countries all over the world are slowly becoming aware of the threat plastic bags present to our world. Many have enacted laws aimed to decrease the use of plastic bags, while others have, or are, planning to impose taxes on the use of plastic bags. These forward thinking, socially conscious countries, cities and corporations should be commended, but the reality is, none of these steps would be necessary if individuals would make the same commitment, co mmitment, or if at the very least, people would do the following: • • •

Reuse plastic shopping bags and wraps Use wax paper instead of polyethylene products Utilize reusable shopping bags made of cloth or hemp

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Recycle your plastic shopping bags by returning them to the store If you forget your reusable shopping bag, op t for paper  Minimize your garbage output by composting and recycling Write to your local and federal governments to demand environmentally-friendly  bags (they do exist) Tell others about the harmful impact of plastic ba g usage

It might take a little planning and a little more time to say no to plastic bags, but by  putting life ahead of inconvenience, each and everyone of us can make a difference to the health of our planet and to all of those living things that have no choice but to live or to die because of the decisions we make.

Say NO to Plastic Bags THE plastic bag is an accepted part of Australia’s shopping culture, but it shouldn’t be. Each year we use 3.92 billion new plastic shopping bags, many of which remain in the environment.

The problem Impact of plastic bags on the environment. Natural resources

Plastics are made from nonrenewable natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coal. Just 8.7 checkout bags contain enough embodied petroleum energy to drive a car 1km.2 Persistence in the environment Non-biodegradable plastics bags can last in the environment for up to 1,000 years. Litter  Landscapes littered with plastic bags are hazardous to wildlife and visually unattractive. What’s more, because plastic bags last so long, every year the number of plastic bags littering the environment are accumulating. Plastic bags are lightweight and moisture resistant which means they float easily in air  and water, often travelling long distances. It is estimated that a total of between 50 and 80 million bags enter the Australian environment as litter every year. 2 Unless they are collected, they stay there. If 80 million plastic bags were made into a single plastic sheet, it would cover 16 square kilometres. Each side of the plastic sheet would be 4km long and it would be big enough to cover the Melbourne CBD. Clean up costs It has been estimated that it costs governments, businesses and community groups over $4 million per annum to clean up littered plastic shopping bags. Marine life There are approximately 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in each square mile of our oceans. It is estimated that plastic kills up to 1 million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish each year. 3 90% of  Albatross chicks on Midway Island (a remote Pacific atoll) had plastic bag remnants in their gullets, while turtles, dolphins and killer whales can choke or starve by confusing plastic bags for jellyfish. Landfills An estimated, 3.76 billion or 20,700 tonnes of plastic bags are disposed of  in landfill sites throughout Australia each year. Some plastic shopping bags are disposed directly into the waste stream, while many are reused as garbage bags, and subsequently sent to landfill. Greenhouse gases When oil, gas and coal are used to produce plastic bags, they emit dangerous greenhouse gases. The

burning of plastics also creates emissions of toxic gases, dioxins and heavy metals. Greenhouse gases contribute to worldwide climate change. Scientists predict that such climate change will impact on all our lives, especially in the areas of agriculture and health. Plastic bags are made from two types of plastic: 1. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) bags - The thin ‘singlet-style’ bags used by over 80% of retailers. 50% of HDPE bags come from nonsupermarket sources.2 This plastic can easily be recycled. 2. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) bags -The thicker bags used by less than 20% of retailers, usually department and boutique stores. These bags are not currently recycled.

Did you know? The average Australian household uses 502 plastic shopping bags every year.1 Australians dump 7,150 recyclable plastic bags into landfill every minute or  429,000 every hour. It takes 21,540 tonnes of  plastic to produce 3.92 billion plastics bags. If 3.92 billion plastic bags were tied together, they would circle the globe 24 times. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to your supermarket for recycling. Currently only approximately 3% of bags are being recycled.2 Plastic Bags and Clean Up Australia Day Each year on Clean Up Australia Day we identify plastic as the major source of  rubbish throughout Australia. In 2005, 32% of all items collected were plastic and 7% of all plastic items were supermarket and retail shopping bags. In 2005, 12.7% of bags were found at rivers/creeks, followed by 10% found at beach/coastal areas.

Saying NO is easy In response to the plastic bag problem, Clean Up Australia developed Say NO to Plastic Bags - a National Plastic Bag Action and Awareness campaign. The Campaign Clean Up Australia is committed to getting rid of lightweight plastic shopping bags. Saying NO to Plastic Bags brings individuals, community, business, government and environment groups together to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastic bags. By the end of 2005 participating retailers committed to reducing the number of plastic bags used by 50%. Supermarkets achieved a 41% reduction in use of plastic bags. Overall, a reduction of 34% from 2002 to 2005 saved 2 billion bags from being produced.1

Things you can do today Refuse If you're only buying a couple of  items, consider carrying them. When shopping, take reusable alternatives like ‘green bags’, calico bags, string bags, baskets or  boxes with you. Keep them in the car, or put your car keys in them at home so you don’t forget to take them with you. Consolidate purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store. Be aware that the thicker  department store bags are generally non-recyclable, so the best action is to avoid taking them.

Reduce Count the number of plastic bags you use and aim to reduce that number each week. Avoid putting items that already have handles, eg. dog food and nappies, into plastic bags. Avoid using small plastic bags as bin liners. Simply put your rubbish straight into your household bin and give the bin a quick rinse afterwards then reuse the water on your garden Biodegradable (break down using natural processes) and Degradable (can use chemicals to break down) plastic bags are becoming

available. However, be cautious when using these bags, as there are no standards in place to test their effectiveness. Degradable bags just break into smaller pieces and can be even more damaging to flora and fauna.

Reuse Reuse plastic bags at home for: freezing food, packing children's school lunches, storage of clothing and other household items. Keep a spare reusable shopping bag in your handbag or wallet for  those times when you thought you would not need a bag, but did.

Recycle It is estimated that in 2001-02, approximately 180 million bags or  1,000 tonnes, were recycled. This represents only 2.7% of all plastic shopping bags.2 Help us to increase that rate by: Finding a local supermarket that offers recycling facilities for plastic supermarket bags and taking your  used plastic bags back for  recycling the next time you go shopping. Returning unwanted plastic bags to the driver for recycling if you have your shopping delivered. Turning bags inside out and removing any receipts and food scraps before recycling. Contamination can cause problems in production and prevent recycled plastic from being used. Approaching your local council to see if they have plans to include plastic bags in kerbside recycling. Remember, if your council does not provide plastic bag recycling, don’t put plastic bags in with your  normal recycling; it can cause major problems in processing.

References Department of Environment and Heritage, Plastic Retail Carry Bag Use 2002-2005 Consumption – end of year  report – Hyder Consulting. http://www.deh.gov.au/settlements/publicat ions/waste/plastic-bags/report-2005.html 2 Environment Australia, Plastic Shopping Bags- Analysis of  Levies and Environmental Impacts (Nolan ITU, 2002) www.deh.gov.au/industry/waste/plasticbags/ bags-analysis.html 1

Australian Marine Conservation Society www.amcs.org.au 4 Environmental Protection and Heritage Council www.ephc.gov.au 5 EcoRecycle www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au 6 NSW Department of Environment and Conservation www.epa.nsw.gov.au 3

Shopper driven action: If you can't find the recycling bin at your supermarket, suggest to the store manager to plastic bags campaign.

Environmental issues Plastics are durable and degrade very slowly; the molecular bonds that make plastic so durable make it equally resistant to natural processes of degradation. Since the 1950s, one  billion tons of plastic have been discarded and may persist for hundreds or even thousands of years.[21] In some cases, burning plastic can release toxic fumes. Burning the  plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) may create dioxin.[22] Also, the manufacturing of plastics often creates large quantities of chemical pollutants. Prior to the ban on the use of CFCs in extrusion of polystyrene (and general use, except in life-critical fire suppression systems; see Montreal Protocol), the production of polystyrene contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer ; however, non-CFCs are currently used in the extrusion  process. By 1995, plastic recycling programs were common in the United States and elsewhere. Thermoplastics can be remelted and reused, and thermoset plastics can be ground up and used as filler, though the purity of the material tends to degrade with each reuse cycle. There are methods by which plastics can be broken back down to a feedstock state. To assist recycling of disposable items, the Plastic Bottle Institute of the Society of the Plastics Industry devised a now-familiar scheme to mark plastic bottles by plastic type. A  plastic container using this scheme is marked with a triangle of three cyclic arrows, which encloses a number giving the plastic type: 1. PET (PETE), polyethylene terephthalate, is commonly found in 2-liter soft drink   bottles, water bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars. 2. HDPE, high-density polyethylene, is commonly found in detergent bottles and milk jugs. 3. PVC, polyvinyl chloride, is commonly found in plastic pipes, outdoor furniture, siding, floor tiles, shower curtains, clamshell packaging. 4. LDPE, low-density polyethylene, is commonly found in dry-cleaning bags,  produce bags, trash can liners, and food storage containers. 5. PP, polypropylene, is commonly found in bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers.

6. PS, polystyrene, is commonly found in "packing peanuts", cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, take-away food clamshell containers. 7. There are also other types of plastics commonly found in certain kinds of food containers, Tupperware, and Nalgene bottles. Unfortunately, recycling of plastics has proven to be a difficult process. The biggest  problem is that it is difficult to automate the sorting of plastic wastes, making it labor  intensive. Typically, workers sort the plastic by looking at the resin identification code, although common containers like soda bottles can be sorted from memory. Other  recyclable materials such as metals are easier to process mechanically. However, new  processes of mechanical sorting are being developed to increase capacity and efficiency of plastic recycling. While containers are usually made from a single type and color of plastic, making them relatively easy to be sorted, a consumer product like a cellular phone may have many small parts consisting of over a dozen different types and colors of plastics. In such cases, the resources it would take to separate the plastics far exceed their value and the item is discarded. However, developments are taking place in the field of active disassembly, which may result in more consumer product components being re-used or recycled. Recycling certain types of plastics can be unprofitable, as well. For example, polystyrene is rarely recycled because it is usually not cost effective. These unrecycled wastes are typically disposed of in landfills, incinerated or used to produce electricity at waste-toenergy plants.

Biodegradable (compostable) plastics Main article: Biodegradable plastic Research has been done on biodegradable plastics that break down with exposure to sunlight (e.g., ultra-violet radiation), water or dampness, bacteria, enzymes, wind abrasion and some instances rodent pest or insect attack are also included as forms of   biodegradation or environmental degradation. It is clear some of these modes of  degradation will only work if the plastic is exposed at the surface, while other modes will only be effective if certain conditions exist in landfill or composting systems. Starch  powder has been mixed with plastic as a filler to allow it to degrade more easily, but it still does not lead to complete breakdown of the plastic. Some researchers have actually genetically engineered bacteria that synthesize a completely biodegradable plastic, but this material, such as Biopol, is expensive at present.[23] The German chemical company BASF makes Ecoflex, a fully biodegradable polyester for food pack aging applications.

Bioplastics Main article: Bioplastic Some plastics can be obtained from biomass, including: •

from pea starch film with trigger biodegradation properties for agricultural applications (TRIGGER).[24]

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from biopetroleum.[25]

Oxo-biodegradable Main article: Oxo Biodegradable Oxo-biodegradable (OBD) plastic is polyolefin plastic to which has been added very small (catalytic) amounts of metal salts. As long as the plastic has access to oxygen (as in a littered state), these additives catalyze the natural d egradation process to speed it up so that the OBD plastic will degrade when subject to environmental conditions. Once degraded to a small enough particle they can interact with biological processes to produce to water, carbon dioxide and biomass. The process is shortened from hundreds of years to months for degradation and thereafter biodegradation depends on the micro-organisms in the environment. Typically this process is not fast enough to meet ASTM D6400 standards for definition as compostable plastics.

Price, environment, and the future The biggest threat to the conventional plastics industry is most likely to be environmental concerns, including the release of toxic pollutants, greenhouse gas, litter , biodegradable and non-biodegradable landfill impact as a result of the production and disposal of   petroleum and petroleum-based plastics. Of particular concern has been the recent accumulation of enormous quantities of plastic trash in ocean gyres. For decades one of the great appeals of plastics has been their low price. Yet in recent years the cost of plastics has been rising dramatically. A major cause is the sharply rising cost of petroleum, the raw material that is chemically altered to form commercial plastics. With some observers suggesting that future oil reserves are uncertain, the price of   petroleum may increase further. Therefore, alternatives are being sought. Oil shale and tar oil are alternatives for plastic production but are expensive. Scientists are seeking cheaper and better alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, and many candidates are in laboratories all over the world. One promising alternative may be fructose.[26]

Common plastics and uses

A chair made with a polypropylene seat Polypropylene (PP) Food containers, appliances, car fenders (bumpers), plastic pressure pipe systems. Polystyrene (PS) Packaging foam, food containers, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, CD and cassette boxes. High impact polystyrene (HIPS) Fridge liners, food packaging, vending cups. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Electronic equipment cases (e.g., computer monitors, printers, keyboards), drainage pipe. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Carbonated drinks bottles, jars, plastic film, microwavable packaging. Polyester (PES) Fibers, textiles. Polyamides (PA) ( Nylons) Fibers, toothbrush bristles, fishing line, under-the-hood car engine moldings. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Plumbing pipes and guttering, shower curtains, window frames, flooring. Polyurethanes (PU) Cushioning foams, thermal insulation foams, surface coatings, printing rollers. (Currently 6th or 7th most commonly used plastic material, for instance the most commonly used plastic found in cars). Polycarbonate (PC) Compact discs, eyeglasses, riot shields, security windows, traffic lights, lenses. Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) (Saran) Food packaging. Polyethylene (PE)

Wide range of inexpensive uses including supermarket bags, plastic bottles. Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) A blend of PC and ABS that creates a stronger plastic. Used in car interior and exterior parts, and mobile phone bodies.

Special purpose plastics Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) Contact lenses, glazing (best known in this form by its various trade names around the world; e.g., Perspex, Oroglas, Plexiglas), aglets, fluorescent light diffusers, rear light covers for vehicles. It forms the basis of artistic and commercial acrylic paints when suspended in water with the use of other agents. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Heat-resistant, low-friction coatings, used in things like non-stick surfaces for  frying pans, plumber's tape and water slides. It is more commonly known as Teflon. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Strong, chemical- and heat-resistant thermoplastic, biocompatibility allows for  use in medical implant applications, aerospace moldings. One of the most expensive commercial polymers. Polyetherimide (PEI) (Ultem) A high temperature, chemically stable polymer that does not crystallize. Phenolics (PF) or ( phenol formaldehydes) High modulus, relatively heat resistant, and excellent fire resistant polymer. Used for insulating parts in electrical fixtures, paper laminated products (e.g., Formica), thermally insulation foams. It is a thermosetting plastic, with the familiar trade name Bakelite, that can be molded by heat and pressure when mixed with a fillerlike wood flour or can be cast in its unfilled liquid form or cast as foam (e.g., Oasis). Problems include the probability of moldings naturally being dark colors (red, green, brown), and as thermoset it is difficult to recycle. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) One of the aminoplasts and used as a multi-colorable alternative to phenolics. Used as a wood adhesive (for plywood, chipboard, hardboard) and electrical switch housings. Melamine formaldehyde (MF) One of the aminoplasts, and used as a multi-colorable alternative to phenolics, for  instance in moldings (e.g., break-resistance alternatives to ceramic cups, plates and bowls for children) and the decorated top surface layer of the paper laminates (e.g., Formica). Polylactic acid (PLA) A biodegradable, thermoplastic found converted into a variety of aliphatic  polyesters derived from lactic acid which in turn can be made by fermentation of  various agricultural products such as corn starch, once made from dairy products. Plastarch material Biodegradable and heat resistant, thermoplastic composed of modified corn starch.

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Conductive polymer  Corn construction Molding (process) Flexible mold o Injection molding o Films Light activated resin  Nurdle Organic light emitting diode Plastics engineering Plastics extrusion Plasticulture Progressive bag alliance Roll-to-roll processing Self-healing plastic Thermoforming Timeline of materials technology