Photo: Chatelaine
The controversy surrounding single-use plastic bag bans continue. Plastic bag manufacturers are using the pandemic surrounding the coronavirus as an opportunity to promote single-use plastic bags. In the current situation, one has to rethink the use of single-use plastic bags. Does the safety (hygienic) to the consumer outweigh the adverse impact on the environment? Serious thought must be given to the question with the increasing rates of coronavirus spreading throughout the world.
Reporting from Politico Energy gives us some insight into the issue:
PLASTICS GO AFTER BAG BANS: Plastic bag proponents see an opportunity in the coronavirus pandemic to push single-use plastics, POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado and Marie J. French report. In a letter obtained by POLITICO and sent to the Department of Health and Human Services last week, the Plastics Industry Association requests a public statement from the department endorsing the idea that single-use plastics are the safest choice amid the pandemic. In New York, New Jersey and other states, the plastics industry and some GOP lawmakers are calling for rollbacks or easing of prohibitions on single-use plastic bags, arguing that often-unwashed reusable bags are hotbeds for the coronavirus.
The letter mentioned in the above paragraph is shown in full below:
March 18, 2020
The Honorable Alex Azar US Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Azar:
Our country is at a critical point in our fight against the novel coronavirus and I am proud to say that the plastics industry is working overtime to produce products and supplies to help in that effort. We stand united with you and all of our nation’s leaders to do what we can to help us get through this period of time and come out as a stronger nation together.
In recent years, there has been a push to eliminate single-use products at the local, state, and now even the federal level. During that time, the plastics industry has been working to educate the general public and elected officials that single-use plastic products are the most sanitary choice when it comes to many applications, especially the consumption and transport of food, whether purchased at a restaurant or at a grocery store. Now more than ever, we are seeing the impacts of those local and state laws restricting the use of single-use products. For instance, local and state plastic bag bans are tying the hands of shoppers and retailers alike. Study after study after study have shown that reusable bags can carry viruses and bacteria, spread them throughout a grocery store, and live on surfaces for up to three days. Additionally, we are attaching a recent affidavit by a leading expert in community hygiene, Ryan Sinclair, PhD, MPH, speaking to the concerns with the cleanliness of reusable grocery bags.
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many Americans, businesses and government officials to realize that single-use plastics are often the safest choice. Some are starting to take corrective action. For example, Bexley, Ohio, has lifted its plastic bag ban due to the novel coronavirus. The mayor of Waterville, Maine, is calling on the city council to suspend the city’s plastic bag ban and, instead, ban reusable bags until the threat of the coronavirus as passed. The New York state senate minority leader is calling on the Department of Environmental Conversation to suspend the statewide plastic bag ban. Chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are suspending the use of reusable cups and “for-here” ware (such as plates and mugs) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Countless restaurants and cafes around the country are switching to a “to-go” and/or delivery model, which will require single-use plastic bags, containers, and cups to transport food and drink to people’s homes. But in many places across the United States, citizens and businesses do not have the choice of using a product that is best for themselves or their customers.
We are asking that the Department of Health and Human Services investigate this issue and make a public statement on the health and safety benefits seen in single-use plastics. We ask that the department speak out against bans on these products as a public safety risk and help stop the rush to ban these products by environmentalists and elected officials that puts consumers and workers at risk.
Sincerely,
Tony Radoszewski, CAE President and CEO Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)
Single-use plastic products are accessible during a pandemic to help avoid the spread of the virus throughout local and state regions. There is no denying the usefulness of the products during a crisis. The disease spread through the use of reusable cloth bags has been an ongoing issue without a pandemic is plaguing our society.
The usefulness of a single-use plastic bag highlights the issue facing all residents in various nations dealing with the spread of the coronavirus. People inherently are not educated on the proper way to exist with sickness in a given region. Notably, in the event of the illness rapidly spreading throughout a geographic area as fast as coronavirus has the potential to spread without precaution.
Therefore, the use of single-use plastic is appropriate, given the situation. The potential adverse impact on the environment is outweighed by the benefit to humanity. That is until the spread can be contained. Environmentalists who seek to eliminate all uses of single-use plastic bags should take a pause during this time. Or at least, try to minimize the use of single-use plastic products when most useful.
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