iSTUDY_ACADEMY Prepared by Khayrulloev M
Plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many
environmental problems. Some people say they should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops
have a negative effect on the environment because they do
not degrade and end up as litter in our cities or oceans. However, the
replacements for plastic bags also carry significant environmental
risks. That is why I think plastic bags should not be banned.
The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they
pollute both the land and water. An insignificant percentage of people
may reuse or recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw
them in the trash. If they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind
up in the ever-increasing number of landfills and contribute to soil
pollution. The ones that are simply tossed in the street clog drains in
cities and eventually find their way to the sea and entangle marine life.
This is why many feel that plastic bags should be banned.
Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic
bags are worse than the original problem. Most people
who advocate banning plastic bags suggest paper bags (which
are biodegradable) or reusable bags that are typically made from
cotton or plastic. Both of these replacements are flawed. Paper bags
require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a large carbon
footprint. Reusable bags are plagued by similar
problems. Independent studies have shown that the production of
cotton and reusable plastic causes more harm to the environment than
disposable plastic bags. Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are
more difficult to recycle, their overall effect on the environment is
worse.
I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have
the desired positive effect. Rather than thoughtlessly banning
them, policy makers should come up with a policy that balances the
materials we use for bags in order to produce an overall positive impact
on the environment.
Vocabulary Definitions
negative effect (n): causes something bad to happen
degrade (v): something can fall apart, materials like paper and foods
can decay
end up (phrasal verb): winds end or finally becomes
litter (n/v): trash that we throw on the street rather than in bins
iSTUDY_ACADEMY Prepared by Khayrulloev M
significant environmental risks (n): big potential problems for the
environment
side effect (n): impact or effect that is not intended but happens anyway
insignificant percentage (n): small %
reuse (v): can be used again and again
wind up (phrasal verb): ends up or finally becomes
ever-increasing (adj): continues to increase all the time
landfills (n): big holes in the ground where trash is stored
contribute to (v): adds to or helps make up
clog drains (v): block drains where water flows when it rains
entangle (v): get stuck
original problem (n): the problem from the beginning
advocate (v): support or suggest
biodegradable (adj): fancier way of saying degradable
reusable bags (n): bags that can be used more than once
typically (adv): usually or normally
flawed (adj): not perfect, has mistakes or drawbacks
clearing forests (v): cutting down forests
carbon footprint (n): the amount of carbon dioxide released into the
atmosphere
plagued (v): cause trouble to or upset by
independent studies (n): research conducted by outside groups
coupled (v): combined
overall effect (n): the total impact
overly simplistic (adj): too simple
thoughtlessly (adv): without a thought
policy makers (n): the people who make laws, members of government
come up with (phrasal verb): create or imagine
balances (v): to make something equal
produce (v): create or make
