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A Day in the Life of a Plastic Bag

Dwayne Mitchell

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I am a plastic bag. I was born in a factory, where I was made from petroleum. I was then shipped to a store, where I was used to hold groceries.

A Day in the Life of a Plastic Bag

by Tom "Big Al" Schreiter

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1591 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	36 pages

After I was used, I was thrown away in the trash. I ended up in a landfill, where I will likely sit for hundreds of years.

While I am in the landfill, I will release harmful chemicals into the environment. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater and soil, and they can also harm animals and plants.

I am a major contributor to the plastic pollution problem. Plastic pollution is a serious environmental problem that is harming our planet and its wildlife.

You can help to reduce plastic pollution by using reusable bags instead of plastic bags. You can also recycle plastic bags when possible.

The Life Cycle of a Plastic Bag

Production
Use
Disposal
Environmental impact

Production

Plastic bags are made from petroleum. Petroleum is a fossil fuel that is formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

The process of making plastic bags begins with the extraction of petroleum. Petroleum is extracted from the ground using a variety of methods, including drilling and fracking.

Once petroleum has been extracted, it is transported to a refinery. At the refinery, petroleum is processed into a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and plastic.

To make plastic bags, polyethylene is used. Polyethylene is a type of plastic that is made from ethylene gas. Ethylene gas is a byproduct of the refining process.

Polyethylene is melted and then extruded into a thin film. The film is then cut into bags and printed with logos or other designs.

Use

Plastic bags are used to hold a variety of items, including groceries, clothing, and trash. Plastic bags are lightweight and inexpensive, which makes them a popular choice for consumers.

However, plastic bags are not very durable. They can easily tear or rip, which can lead to spills and messes.

Plastic bags can also be a hazard to wildlife. Animals can become entangled in plastic bags, which can lead to injury or death.

Disposal

After plastic bags are used, they are typically thrown away in the trash. Plastic bags can also be recycled, but the recycling rate for plastic bags is low.

When plastic bags are thrown away in the trash, they end up in landfills. Landfills are large holes in the ground where trash is buried.

Plastic bags can take hundreds of years to decompose. In the meantime, they can release harmful chemicals into the environment. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater and soil, and they can also harm animals and plants.

Environmental impact

Plastic bags are a major contributor to the plastic pollution problem. Plastic pollution is a serious environmental problem that is harming our planet and its wildlife.

Plastic bags can also be a hazard to wildlife. Animals can become entangled in plastic bags, which can lead to injury or death.

You can help to reduce plastic pollution by using reusable bags instead of plastic bags. You can also recycle plastic bags when possible.

A Day in the Life of a Plastic Bag

by Tom "Big Al" Schreiter

4.4 out of 5