Plastic bags are harmful towards animals on land, air, and the ocean. Often times, they mistaken plastic bags as food and consume them causing death from the blockage of airways and digestive systems. Instead of the plastic degrading, it is broken down into small tiny pieces which are swept down and end up in the oceans.  267 species of marine life are negatively impacted by plastic pollution. All of the materials used to produce plastic bags are non-renewable fossil fuel-based and through their extraction and even production, greenhouse gases are created which further contribute to global climate change.

Bans should be adopted because they are greatly effective at reducing plastic big waste. If the US bans plastic bags, there would be fewer landfills. Around the world, 20 countries have already implemented plastic bag legislation. In the United States, 148 cities have some form of plastic bag legislation, 5 cities have a plastic bag fee, and DC taxes plastic bags. In cities and nations that have enacted plastic bag bans, there has been no proof linking the legislation to negatively impacting the grocery business. Banning plastic bags saves money, improves technology to boosts other businesses and can cause cities in various nations to begin to focus on other bigger waste diversion challenges.