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Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. National Geographic News September 2, 2003:

Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. National Geographic News September 2, 2003

Less than 1% of bags are recycled. It cost more to recycle a bag than to produce a new one.:

Less than 1% of bags are recycled. It cost more to recycle a bag than to produce a new one. - Christian Science Monitor News Paper

“There's harsh economics behind bag recycling: It costs $4,000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastic bags, which can then be sold on the commodities market for $32”:

“There's harsh economics behind bag recycling: It costs $4,000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastic bags, which can then be sold on the commodities market for $32” - Jared Blumenfeld (Director of San Francisco's Department of the Environment)

Then…:

Then… Where Do They Go?

Slide 5:

A study in 1975, showed oceangoing vessels together dumped 8 million pounds of plastic annually. The real reason that the world's landfills weren't overflowing with plastic was because most of it ended up in an ocean-fill - U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Slide 6:

Bags get blown around…

Slide 7:

…to different parts of our lands

Slide 8:

…and to our seas, lakes and rivers.

Slide 9:

Bags find their way into the sea via drains and sewage pipes - CNN.com/tecnhology November 16, 2007

Plastic bags have been found floating north of the Arctic Circle near Spitzbergen, and as far south as the Falkland Islands:

Plastic bags have been found floating north of the Arctic Circle near Spitzbergen, and as far south as the Falkland Islands - British Antarctic Survey

Slide 11:

Plastic bags account for over 10 percent of the debris washed up on the U.S. coastline - National Marine Debris Monitoring Program

Slide 12:

Plastic bags photodegrade: Over time they break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers - CNN.com/tecnhology November 16, 2007

Slide 13:

which eventually contaminate soils and waterways - CNN.com/tecnhology November 16, 2007

Slide 14:

As a consequence microscopic particles can enter the food chain - CNN.com/tecnhology November 16, 2007

Slide 15:

The effect on wildlife can be catastrophic - World Wildlife Fund Report 2005

Slide 16:

Birds become terminally entangled - World Wildlife Fund Report 2005

Slide 18:

Nearly 200 different species of sea life including whales, dolphins, seals and turtles die due to plastic bags - World Wildlife Fund Report 2005

Slide 19:

They die after ingesting plastic bags which they mistake for food - World Wildlife Fund Report 2005

So…:

So… What do we do?

If we use a cloth bag, we can save 6 bags a week :

If we use a cloth bag, we can save 6 bags a week

That's 24 bags a month:

That's 24 bags a month

That's 288 bags a year:

That's 288 bags a year

That's 22,176 bags in an average life time:

That's 22,176 bags in an average life time

If just 1 out of 5 people in our country did this we would save 1,330,560,000,000 bags over our life time:

If just 1 out of 5 people in our country did this we would save 1,330,560,000,000 bags over our life time

Bangladesh has banned plastic bags :

Bangladesh has banned plastic bags - MSNBC.com March 8, 2007

China has banned free plastic bags:

China has banned free plastic bags - CNN.com/asia January 9, 2008

Ireland took the lead in Europe, taxing plastic bags in 2002 and have now reduced plastic bag consumption by 90% :

Ireland took the lead in Europe, taxing plastic bags in 2002 and have now reduced plastic bag consumption by 90% - BBC News August 20, 2002

In 2005 Rwanda banned plastic bags :

In 2005 Rwanda banned plastic bags - Associated Press

Israel, Canada, western India, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Taiwan, and Singapore  have also banned or are moving toward banning the plastic bag :

Israel, Canada, western India, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Taiwan, and Singapore  have also banned or are moving toward banning the plastic bag - PlanetSave.com February 16, 2008

On March 27th 2007, San Francisco becomes first U.S. city to ban plastic bags  :

On March 27th 2007, San Francisco becomes first U.S. city to ban plastic bags - NPR.org (National Public Radio)

Oakland and Boston are considering a ban :

Oakland and Boston are considering a ban - The Boston Globe May 20, 2007

Plastic shopping bags are made from polyethylene: a thermoplastic made from oil :

Plastic shopping bags are made from polyethylene: a thermoplastic made from oil - CNN.com/tecnhology November 16, 2007

Reducing plastic bags will decrease foreign oil dependency :

Reducing plastic bags will decrease foreign oil dependency

China will save 37 million barrels of oil each year due to their ban of free plastic bags :

China will save 37 million barrels of oil each year due to their ban of free plastic bags - CNN.com/asia January 9, 2008

It is possible...:

It is possible ...