Plastic bags have been around since 1977, as a replacement for paper bags.  Four out of five bags distributed by retailers are in the form of plastic. Hundreds of billions are produced each year, but few are recycled.  Plastic bags take nearly 1000 years to biodegrade, releasing toxic chemicals as they do so. Because of their light weight, many are carried by the wind into waterways.   Once there, they create hazards for marine life, due to suffocation and stomach blockage after ingestion leading to starvation.  In an average square mile of ocean, there are 46,000 pieces of plastic of various types and sizes.  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a swirling oceanic mass of mainly plastic refuse that is twice the size of Texas.  Plastic bags also end up clogging sewer pipes, leading to stagnant water that causes health problems of its own.

Improper disposal and lack of plastic bag recycling programs contribute to these problems.  Plastic bags increase costs to retailers, because consumers expect as many “free” plastic bags as they desire to carry their purchases. Elimination of plastic bags from the environment would contribute to reducing the amount that goes into the ocean, protecting sea creatures and reducing pollution.

There are many communities around the world that have banned plastic bags.  Brownsville recently passed an ordinance that has been very successful.  Other Texas cities like Austin and Galveston wish to adopt similar bans.  Let us show Mayor Parker that Houstonians want the same thing.   Please sign this petition supporting an initiative to ban plastic bags in Houston’s retail establishments.