Resources for a discussion about plastic
Advantages
Easy to manufacture
Plentiful
Lighter weight
Not easily breakable
Can be molded into many shapes and sizes
Can come in just about every color possible
The durability, strength, low cost, water and chemicals resistance, welding properties, lesser
energy and heavy chemicals requirements in manufacture, fewer atmosphere emissions and
light weight are advantages of plastic bags. Many studies comparing plastic versus paper for
shopping bags show that plastic bags have less net environmental effect than paper bags,
requiring less energy to produce, transport and recycle; however these studies also note that
recycling rates for plastic are significantly lower than for paper.[2] Plastic bags can be
incinerated in appropriate facilities for waste-to-energy. Plastic bags are stable and benign in
sanitary landfills.[3] Plastic carrier bags can be reused as trash bags or bin bags. Plastic bags
are complimentary in many locations but are charged or "taxed" in others.
Disadvantages
The following disadvantages have also been identified:
Plastic containers could contain carcinogens
Not biodegradable
Most plastic containers are thrown away and end up in landfills
Plastic parts aren't nearly as durable as metal or other materials
Difficult to repair if broken
Plastic bags are made of petrochemicals, a nonrenewable resource.
Plastic bags are flimsy and often do not stand up as well as paper or cloth.
When disposed of improperly, they are unsightly and represent a hazard to wildlife.
Conventional plastic bags are not readily biodegradable in a sanitary landfill.
Plastic bags can cause unsupervised infants to suffocate.[4]
They clog roadside drains, which could cause the flooding of the street at heavy rainfalls.
Source(s):wikipedia
Economic, Environmental, Political
Uses of Plastic
Plastics are "one of the greatest innovations of the millennium" (on the cover of Newsweek)
and have certainly proved their reputation to be true; it has been the most used material in the
United States since 1976. There are a myriad ways that plastic is and will be used in the years
to come. The fact that plastic is lightweight, does not rust or rot, helps lower transportation
costs and conserves natural resources is the reason for which plastic has gained this much
popularity. Plastics are everywhere and have innumerable uses! Plastics are durable,
lightweight, and reusable. Also, the are used in packaging many goods. Did you know that
researches are trying to make a television (made of plastic) that will roll up in your living
room? In the following paragraphs, I will discuss some of the countless number of ways that
plastics change your life.
Economic
The plastic industry, which barely existed about fifty years ago, now is helping the United
States economy greatly! In 1996, shipments of plastics added up to an amazing $274.5
billion, a fifty-five percent increase from 1991. Also in 1996, the plastic industry employed
more than 1,337,700 jobs. Plastics are everywhere! From your pillows and mattresses
(cellular polyurethane or polyester) to cars and hi-tech computers, plastics are there. Since
plastic is an insulator, plastic is used to cover almost all wires and electric cords. Did you
know that if the Titanic was made of plastic, it might still be cruising around the world?
Plastics are exactly like the Titanic, colossal in many people's current lifestyle, and will be in
their future lifestyle.
Manufacturers are dependent on plastic to save them money on packaging, as they use onethird of the total United States production. They choose strong and lightweight plastics to
deliver the same amount of product with less packaging than other materials. The building
and construction industry uses vinyl siding for homes because of its appearance, durability,
ease of installation and energy efficiency and they are the second largest consumers of
plastics. The automotive industry chooses plastic for their durability, corrosion resistance,
ease of coloring and finishing, resiliency, energy efficiency and lightweight. The auto,
appliance, and construction industries also uses plastic, for plastic reduces energy
consumption. Plastics certainly are a great gift for these industries, and certainly cuts a chunk
out of their production costs!
Plastic is not only energy efficient, but saves the United States dollars by the second. In a
recently conducted test, researchers found out that by using plastic over glass and metal, the
United States economy could save over $336 trillion. Although we have listed some of the
major consumers of plastics, there are quite a few more out there. In any household, plastics
are destined to be there. Plastics certainly have made a home in our world's economy as the
"useful innovation of the millennium."
Health and Environmental Hazards
Although plastic has many positive influences in everyday lives, there have been instances
when plastics have posed some health and environmental hazards. Most plastics do not pose
any health or environmental hazards, but some monomers that are used in manufacturing
plastics, have been proved to cause cancer. Also, benzene, a raw material used in the
production of nylon, is a carcinogen (something that causes cancer). Even though recycling
continues to reuse plastics, most plastics do not rot and can not be reused. Unfortunately, this
will soon become an environmental problem: Where will the plastic be disposed? But, many
researchers hope to find a solution to this dilemma in the future. When every plastic can be
broken down, plastic will truly become the most useful product!
Political Effects
Unwanted plastic is not only a pile of rubbish, it also smells trouble.
Some countries have too much of plastic rubbish for them to dispose off. And due to the high
cost of the disposal of the plastic rubbish, many resort to indiscriminate dumping of plastics.
In many cases, some developed countries actually pay the developing countries to dump the
rubbish in their country so that the developed countries' "backyard" would be clean of the
unwanted plastic products. Sometimes, rumors spread about dumping of toxic waste and this
often cause tensions between the related the nations.
Besides dumping of plastics, some countries actually incinerate the plastic waste and all the
poisonous gases produced actually spreads across nations; causing serious effects such as
acid rain, health and environmental effects across the borders.