Do plastic bags ever decompose?

Question

I'm talking about the plastic bags from the grocery store.....thanks.

Answer 1

It takes forever for a plastic bag to decompose. Plus, they're made from petroleum, which uses more OIL.
I'd recommend using paper bags that can easily be recycled, or bring a permanent canvas shopping bag every time you shop that can be used over and over.
Thanks for recycling and helping to save the planet!
-RKO- 06/12/07

Answer 2

At least the plastic bags the grocery stores here use, are made off recycle able material and are bio-decompose able.. So in time I belive your plastic bags would decompose.. And if you put the bags to use, and recycle them afterward (to make more plastic bags?) I guess the use off them can be somewhat defended. But I wonder why people doesn't start using their own bags made of something more environmentally correct.. Its not like we bring plastic bags to the gym..

Answer 3

Yes, they will, but it will take more than a few hundred years. I think estimates are 800-1200 years for plastic that thin. That is, to truly decompose in the sense of a landfill. In the environment they deteriorate and break down in a much shorter time, as some people have note.

Answer 4

Plastic bags are man made in protecting with want, so if fewer bags are necessary, fewer bags will be produced. the luggage are certainly already made yet when extra human beings use their own bags, the plastic bags might want for use a lot less in a lot of situations, for this reason lowering the quantity of baggage being wasted and ending up in landfills. Plus, that's likewise a way for the keep or company to make funds because they sometimes do no longer value customers for plastic bags yet they do value a minimum of $a million for the reusable bags.

Answer 5

Anything organic will eventually decompose...even glass.
Depending on the type of plastic, it can take years or centuries.
As you probably know, there are some cornstarch-based products that are very eco-friendly and dissolve within a few weeks.

Regarding shopping bags - reuse the ones you have or get canvas bags to use again and again.

Answer 6

plastic bags takes hundreds of years to decompose.

Answer 7

I think they take upto and above 100 years to breakdown

If you can reuse bags then do it, my local Tescos you brought a bag for 10p and theyre called "bag for life" so when they break you can get another one, problem is theyre plastic lol

The other option is another bag which is 17p made out of fabric and everytime you resue the bag you get double points on your shopping, im sure more supermarkets do this aswell.

Answer 8

Plastic bags do eventually break down but it takes a very long time. Thats why it is disgouraged because it can clog up a landfill.

Answer 9

No,plastics are non biodegradeable and as such will never decompose-at least not within our lifetime!It is our selfish legacy for the future-we have such a scant regard for the next generation that we do not care about the impact of our negligent behaviour on the environment! Big businesses are only worried about their profit margins and NOT about how we pollute the environm with their products!

Answer 10

It takes a LONG LONG LONG time.

Try to reuse the ones you get at the grocery store. Try to bring your own cloth bag. When it finally does rip, put it in your stores recycling bin. They melt them down and make the benches that are by the front door.

Try to find out which stores in your area give 5cents off your purchace per bag and spread the word!

Bags are made out of oil. By not using the bag unless we need it, we're saving oil and lessing our dependance on foreign countries.