Pittsburgh City Council is currently considering Councilwoman Erika Strassburger’s proposed legislation to ban single-use plastics (“Experts join discussion about potential plastic bag ban in Pittsburgh,” Dec. 18, TribLIVE). An important issue connected to this legislation is the health consequences on all of us by continuing the manufacture of plastic bags.
Plastic bags are made from fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change. Studies have shown that the impact on the health of Pennsylvania families living near natural gas fracking wells for cancers, asthma and other respiratory problems is significantly higher than for those families living far away from fracking wells. The microplastic particles generated pollute the air we breathe.
The reduction in the use of single-use plastic bags will reduce the demand and thus the pollution generated by its manufacture. Rather than dealing with the recycling problems, we need to stop the initial creation of single-use plastic.
I support the saying, “The greenest bag is the one we don’t use.” I am confident that Pittsburgh City Council will identify solutions to the implementation of this ban and improve our health by improving our air quality.
I urge council to pass this legislation.
Barbara Grover
Squirrel Hill