|
|
Article: Paper or plastic? States wrestle with plans to ban plastic bags.(DEBATE)
- Article from:
- Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication
- Article date:
- March 24, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Weekly Reader Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Get Talking
Ask students: What types of bags do you use for groceries (paper, plastic, reusable)? Tell them some cities and states are considering banning plastic bags. Ask students: Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea?
Notes Behind the News
* Plastic bags came into use in 1957 for carrying sandwiches and snacks. Twenty years later, the plastic grocery bag was introduced. Plastic grocery bags were less expensive to make than paper and didn't require cutting down trees. By 1996, 80 percent of grocery bags used were plastic.
* In 2007, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban petroleum-based plastic bags. Stores are ...