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What I Want For Christmas – Ban Plastic Bags

Our use of plastic is getting out of hand and habits have to change immediately starting with the prohibition of plastic bags. New data collected from a recent study suggests we have over 5 Trillion pieces of plastic afloat in our oceans. In the study pieces of all sizes were measured and the density of plastic waste mapped

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Our use of plastic is getting out of hand and habits have to change immediately starting with the prohibition of plastic bags.

New data collected from a recent study suggests we have over 5 Trillion pieces of plastic afloat in our oceans. In the study pieces of all sizes were measured and the density of plastic waste mapped – see here on NZHerald.

We have known for some time entire ocean ecosystems are hurting due to plastic waste. Ironically New Zealand has one of the highest usages of plastic bags yet it still promotes itself as 100 % Pure. New Zealand imports more plastic bags from China than China’s Billion plus population uses and this is not hard given China has banned the plastic bag.

New Zealand needs to commit to a total ban like so many countries have. You can check out what action countries are committed to take on this wikipedia page called phase out of light weight plastic bags.

Here is an image of countries and the action they are taking…. its really disappointing New Zealand is not one of them.

View full image here

“A car could drive about 11 metres on the amount of petroleum used to make a single plastic bag.”

“The World Wide Fund for Nature has estimated that over 100,000 whales, seals, and turtles die every year[citation needed] as a result of eating or being trapped by plastic bags. In India, an estimated number of 20 cows die per day as a result of ingesting plastic bags and having their digestive systems clogged by the bags.”

Source

Come on New Zealand – all I want for Christmas is a ban on plastic bags!

HubSpot