Essay/Term paper: Plastic not paper

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Society

Plastic Not Paper


Walking through the grocery store I always try to look for the best buy.
I always buy what's on sale, I guess you could say I'm cheep. Then I get to the
check out lane, preferably the one with fewer people. I empty my wallet and pay.
Then I wait. I think it's going to happen but I am not sure. Then it does,
the baggier says, "Would you like paper or plastic?" I look that person right
in the eye and I tell him, "I want the one that's better for the environment, I
want the one that will help prevent pollution, I want the one that cost less, I
want plastic." Plastic bags save money, they conserve energy, they are
practical and they are better for the environment. That's why plastic bags are
the best choice at the check out line. Of course your wondering how plastic bags
save money, well just think 2,000 paper bags stacked on each other reaches a
height of about 7.25 inches, while paper reaches a soaring height of 7.5 feet.
This means it takes seven trucks to deliver the same amount of paper as one
plastic delivering truck. Talk about a big waste of gas. Plastic bags cost
about ¼ of a cent to make, while paper cost close to 3 cents. This is money we
save as well as the store owner. This is a lot of money that is going to
waste considering that plastic bags are so much more practical then paper. You
can use them for lots of other things. You can take on trips to the grocery
store, your can protect dry clothing from wet towels in an exercise bag. You
can line your house hold waste basket with them, you tote dry shoes to work on
rainy days. Hold plastic, aluminum and glass for recycling. Plastic bags are
also very practical to carry. You can carry 5 compared with 2 paper bags.
Plastic bags also hold just as many items as paper. This is also very practical
because you can get your groceries out of your car a lot faster, after all
grocery shopping is not the most fun thing to do. A study by Franklin
Associates LTD analyzed the environmental impacts of plastic and unbleached
paper bag through out there life cycles. They found that plastic grocery bags
conserve 40% less energy, 80% less solid waste,70% less atmospheric emissions,
and release up to 95% fewer water born wastes. All these things are natural
resources that we have to conserve and can't afford to lose. The brown paper
bags used in most grocery stores are made from virgin paper without any
contributions from recycled materials. Paper making pollutes the water,
releases dioxins, contributing to acid rain and cost trees lives. Weird as it
may sound some virgin paper can be more damaging to wildlife than plastic
substances, like 6pack rings. If you choose paper over plastic you are
supporting higher levels of pollution. The choice of plastic over paper doesn't
seem to be that big of a decision, but as you now know it does effect the
environment. If you don't care about the environment then use the plastic bags
for there great other practical uses. So the next time you are at the check out
lane and you get asked the question, say plastic with pride.