In the past few years, dozens of cities in California have issued a ban on single-use plastic bags. The public has become more educated about the problems that come with using them. The movement to stop plastic pollution is growing, and residents are now trying to outlaw plastic bags statewide.
California throws away over 123,000 tons of plastic bags each year and most of them end up as dangerous litter in the ocean. The waste endangers marine wildlife, who mistake the garbage as food, and choke on the hazardous pieces. Also, toxic pollutants leak out from the plastic and are absorbed by fish and aquatic animals. To make matters worse, scientists say that the plastic is not biodegradable. Something that we use for 10 minutes can contaminate the ocean for hundreds of years.
As more people become aware of the consequences of using plastic bags, they are spreading the news. Currently, 1 in 3 Californians have stopped using plastic bags in their lives. So far, the effort to end the use of plastic bags is making great progress. Today, over 100 communities in California already have or are in the process of enacting the ban. Now, residents are trying to take it even further. Many are in support of raising it to a statewide ban. Hopefully, the entire state of California will soon be free of pollution from plastic bags.