Thousands of marine animals and over 1 million birds die each year from plastic pollution. Approximately 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States annually, more than 1,200 bags per person per year with less than 1% recycled. It costs $4,000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastic bags which then sells for only $32. Using reusable bags can save hundreds of single-use plastic bags per lifetime and has significant environmental benefits as reusable bags are non-toxic, washable, and last for years.

1. •Thousands of marine animals and more than 1 million birds die each year as a result of
plastic pollution.
•Approx. 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year.That’s more
than 1,200 bags per US resident, per year- Less than 1% are recycled!
•It costs $4,000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastics bags, which can then be sold on
commodities market for only $32.
WHAT CAN WE DO??
•Using one cloth reusable bag can save up to 6 plastic bags a week, or 24 bags
a month, or 288 bags a year, or 22,176 bags in a lifetime, making the
environmental impact very worthwhile.
•Reusable bags are most often non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-allergenic.
•Reusable bags are washable and most will last for years.
Victoria Heidkamp

2. References
 Ponnuru, Ramesh. "The DisgustingConsequences of Plastic-Bag Bans." Bloomberg. N.p., n.d.Web. 12
Apr. 2013.
 Villarreal, Pamela, and Baruch Feigenbaum. "A Survey on the Economic Effects of LosAngelesCounty's
Plastic Bag Ban | NCPA." ASurvey on the Economic Effects of Los AngelesCounty's Plastic Bag Ban | NCPA.
NCPA, n.d.Web. 12Apr. 2013.
 Wagner, Jamey. "The Effects of Plastic Bags on Environment." The Effects of Plastic Bags on Environment.
Healthguidence.org, n.d.Web. 12Apr. 2013.
 Image 1: http://cruelty-free-world.blogspot.com/2010/07/no-more-free-plastic-bags-in-california.html
 Image 2: http://granitegrok.com/blog/2012/04/what-could-go-wrong-la-set-to-ban-paper-and-plastic