Ban the Bag!

Local teen Oceans Hero James Hemphill is working hard to ban the plastic bag in Virginia Beach! His introduction to the petition reads as follows, “Each year Americans use more than 100 billion plastic grocery bags, consuming an estimated 12 million barrels of oil (Query, 2007). However, this solution for shopping has many unintended consequences that must be addressed. According to Query (2007), “After a very short working life, these bags retire to landfills where they take 500 or more years to break down, or become litter that clogs storm drains and threatens marine wildlife.” Disposable plastic bags also toxify the soil and clogged sewers can lead to flooding during large storms. (China, 2008). Virginia Beach’s coastal location makes it important to ban bags to prevent flooding from clogged sewers during hurricanes, save coastal wildlife that feed and breed in the area, conserve soil by reducing toxins from bags, and reduce litter. Plastic bags should be banned in Virginia Beach to promote economic and environmental sustainability.”  To sign the petition and read his research please visit: http://www.change.org/petitions/ban-the-bag-3#!!!