In many countries, plastic shopping bags are the main type of rubbish. They cause water and land pollution so they should be banned. What is your opinion? What are the solutions to this problem ?

In these days, with the advancement of the technology, the cost and time spent for a plastic bag is relatively low. Despite the convenience and versatile of plastic bags which have been proved in two latest century, plastic bags bring about adverse effects for the environment. There is just a few second for making a plastic bag but it takes a period of over hundred years to compose plastic products. Consequently, plastic goods pose a menace to all creatures in the ecosystems, and contaminate rivers, lands… Because of this reason, some people think that the government should take actions to ban the use of plastic shopping bags. However, I strongly believe it is not the time for the forbiddance, we should find out alternative solutions to the problem.

Firstly, plastic industry is a contributory factor to the economy, which means the reduction in the use of plastic bags will negatively influence the economy. Many factories can’t continue operating their business in terms of a shortage of supplies. The profits of these companies will decrease, to some degree may be in debt. Tight budgets hinder them from running the business.

Secondly, there is a need for alternative products to plastic bags. Enormous numbers of the alternatives must be produced to replace plastic shopping bags. It is impossible to serve this demand, and factories have to not only work non-stop to create sufficient quantities of substitute goods, but also seek for large amount of material, which is costly to purchase.

To reduce the waste of plastic bags, shopping malls and supermarkets should offer some discounts for customers when they reuse old plastic bags. Also the government should formulate a new policy, which encourage the citizens to reduce the use of plastic bags, or pay for all used plastic bags returned by residents. The environment is not contaminated by the use of plastic bags, but is polluted by the waste of plastic bags. Overall, banning plastic bags is not an ideal solution; indeed, raising awareness of people about protecting environment should be preferential.