The purposeful life span of plastic bags that are a staple of retail stores can be measured in minutes, while these thinnest of load-bearing containers take decades to decompose in landfills. The familiar store-to-home bags have a knack for finding their way into the environment as litter on the ground or floating in streams, rivers and oceans. When multiplied by about 500 billion each year, these easy-come, easy-go bags become a menace to the planet. Alternatives exist — reusable cotton or non-woven polypropylene satchels, for example — but convincing people at grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores to make the switch is a tough sell. Lori Lawrence… is part of the Wichita City Council’s task force studying potential of an ordinance prohibiting use of plastic bags by businesses starting in 2023.
Source: Kansas Reflector
