Why cant we just make biodegradable plastic bags if theyre so bad for the enviroment?

Question

Why cant we just make biodegradable plastic bags if theyre so bad for the enviroment?

Answer 1

We do, but they cost more money to make, so people have to pay more money to get them, which most people aren't willing to do.  The only use I have for plastic bags is to pick up dog p**p.  As for the grocery, it is a better option to use cloth bags.

Answer 2

Surely the more sensible question to ask is why can't we use more sustainable carriers instead, both in terms of being reusable and in terms of production/disposal.

Biodegradable plastic bags do exist, but they are useless at carrying things - put anything remotely heavy/sharp in them and they rip within a couple of minutes, so since you have to double bag everything if you're carrying anything any distance at all I think the limited benefits are entirely cancelled out.

Answer 3

It destroys recycling of all plastic bags. Many bags are made form recycled plastic - but if you add biodegradable materials, your recycled bags fall apart.

You need to keep them out of recycling streams. They are a bad idea.

Answer 4

1) i don't even know if thats possible

2)other types of paper and cloth are easier to be recyled

3) It could help if they did that.

Answer 5

All plastic comes from oil, petroleum products. Plastic takes decades in some cases, perhaps a century or more in others to break down in landfills. In the meantime, landfills reach capacity pretty quickly. Recycling plastic can be done many times using the same plastic before it breaks down and can't be recycled anymore. Using cloth bags, now offered at grocery stores and supermarkets for under a buck a piece are useful, not just for grocery shopping, but for the fact that they can be washed and reused over and over for many years and used for other things. Plastic is convenient, no doubt. But it's killing our states with landfill overflow. We need to use biodegradable alternatives.

Answer 6

The big factor is the cost.  Since they are just beginning to conduct research on starch based plastic, there is not enough data to make the production of it cost effective.  To make corn based plastic they use almost the same amount of petroleum (about 80%) as they do with regular plastic bags.  They have to utilize farm machinery, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, vehicle (transport), and factories (produce the final product), all which require petroleum.  Some companies make plastic bags that are partially composed of biodegradable materials.  The only problem with this is that when the bag breaks down, it leaves bits and pieces of petroleum based plastic which small animals can consume and choke on.  The other problem with bioplastic is that it is not durable as regular plastic.  At certain high temperatures the bag can melt and lose its shape.  I say we just ban plastic bags altogether or charge for each plastic bag we use.  They have already started doing this in San Francisco, CA.

Answer 7

Bring your own fabric carrier or say "paper" when they ask: "paper or  plastic?"

Answer 8

We can make biodegradable plastic bags. In fact they can be purchased all over the World and are used in many places. Just Google "biodegradable plastic bags" and you will see.

Answer 9

Because plastic is not biodegradable. Re-use your bags or skip taking a bag when its not necessary.