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 Plastic bags are known for destroying the environment. FORT WORTH, TX (Catholic Online) - Since last January, South Padre Islan and Fort Stockton have also followed on the ban. Next month, Austin is expected to vote to ban all single-use bags, both paper and plastic. In 2009, the United Nations Environment Program asked for a worldwide ban on plastic bags, which are commonly found in trees, floating in rivers and streams, and clogging the ocean. The UNEP also wishes to ban the bags to protect marine wildlife, who mistake the bags for food or for innocently getting tangle in them. Many countries around the world have all banned plastic bags. In the U.S., San Francisco was the first city to ban them in 2007. That\'s 30 years after they became widely used in major grocery store companies. Cities that do not yet have the plastic bag ban, are trying to educate residents about recycling and are promoting reusable bags. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only about 12 percent of plastics under the category of "bags" were recycled. Robin Schneider, executive director for Texas Campaign for the Environment, says that getting rid of plastic bags is a necessary step for the city to reach its zero-waste goal by 2030. While many point out that plastic bags have use and are extremely cheap, others say the bags are messing with Texas\' natural beauty. © 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM. - - - Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013 General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him. Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance. |
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