Yes, the use of plastics has turned upside down. When plastics were first used on a large scale in the 1950-60s teir selling point was that they were re-usable and ever-lasting - plastic bags don't tear or become soggy like paper bags, plastic containers are lighter and bouncier than glass ones, and so forth. But then, with cheap oil and production (anyone remember that?
) the big advantage was said to be that plastic goods didn't need washing, re-using &c - just burn them or dump them in a hole in the ground .. the only consideration was that industrial users made bigger profits.
Yes, the government should simply ban disposable goods of all kinds. The supermarkets won't do anything serious about reducing their use and the majority of members of the public will just take and throw as they've always done simply becuse they can't be botheredd to think a little in advance and take bags with them for shopping.
