Since the invention of plastic bags has come upon our world, you could say that they do contribute to our carbon footprint, and more importantly, the environment. The city of Walnut Creek now does not produce anymore plastic bags, but paper bags, which cost ten cents. Such an incentive to get the community to start reusing is great. And probably, within the next few years or less, America could be a plastic-bag-free country ; once the controversy ends. Paper bags, that also have their side effects though, are more Earth-friendly when comparing and contrasting. One could argue though that a plastic bag is better because it can be recycled.
I am sure that sometime in life, perhaps around freeway/highway areas and many other, have seen various pieces of litter floating around. And the white object that flies around from one place to another is probably the famous plastic bag. And when the nomadic life of this bag has settled down, it is time for it to break down. Unlike paper bags, plastic ones are not biodegradable, which means that they are unable to allow the Earth to t ake use of it as compost, and release harmful toxins that contaminate the ground. Besides biodegradability, plastic bags and bottles consume a very necessary resource : oil. Thus, this process would definitely allow for so factory action to take place. Some do debate upon the fact that plastic bags use of less than 0.5% of a barrel of oil to make these bags. But, the truth is that the controversy between paper and plastic is one that is never ending. For me, the only things that could get me to start using plastic bags again would be a better recycling program. Now that they are not in stores anymore throughout Walnut Creek, people have been starting to use reusable bags more. And the best choice to ever exist in my opinion: Use reusable bags only. It saves money as well as the environment, and your footprint.