Plastic bags an environmental threat

Danger to animals

I'm writing regarding the Jan. 21 letter to the editor titled "Plastic bag disposal."

From time to time, we probably have all let a plastic bag get away from us. Perhaps one blows out of the car unseen, or it gets away from you on the beach or while you take the trash to the curb. Many of them make it to the ocean by way of a far away lake, stream or storm drain. Once in the ocean, they resemble jelly fish to some aquatic species that feed on them.

I am a transplant from Mystic, Conn., who last year took friends and family to the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, where a friend works. A team of her scientists had just returned from a Rhode Island beach, where they investigated the death of a stranded pygmy sperm whale.

After dissecting the whale's gut, it was found to be impacted with plastic bags, so much so that other items in its diet could not be digested or passed through its intestinal tract. It is not known how long the poor thing had been feeding on plastic bags, but eventually they killed him.

Trash is an ugly thing, even in a landfill. This is another reason why we should all should be aware of, and teach our children about, proper trash disposal. Most of the trash with which we litter our streets, yards, school rooms and hallways, etc., is picked up by someone.

But sometimes it isn't, and it gets away. It could be deadly to some unsuspecting innocent creature of the sea. It is not just bottles, cans and paper. Six-pack plastic strangles, fishing line entraps and plastic bags kill.

By proper disposal of trash, you can help make the world better looking, cleaner and safer for us, as well as for the animals of the air, land and sea.

Douglas Peacock

Shadowmoss Parkway

Use paper or canvas

I recently switched to Publix for grocery shopping. It not only has recycling bins for plastic and paper bags, it also has bins for Styrofoam from egg cartons, etc.

When I bring a canvas bag to the checkout counter for my groceries, the cashiers recognize what it is and fill it up. Canvas bags are available online, and Publix sells them just inside the store, specifically for shopping.

Apparently, some countries have either taxed or have outlawed plastic bags, both of which have dramatically decreased usage.

Keith Merrill

Steeplechase Lane

Hollywood

Ban the bags

Regarding the ubiquitous plastic bags referred to in a recent letter: We should take San Francisco's lead and ban them. It only takes a couple hours of volunteer roadside trash pickup to discover that the bags are a menace to the environment.

We can start by choosing paper, if available, bringing our own reusable bags to grocery stores, or bagging our own items and getting more into each bag. I've had cashiers put only one item in a bag.

Frankly, it doesn't bother me whether the block of cheese sits next to the can of soup.

Dan Coleman

Alamo Street

North Charleston