Introduction
Active use of plastic products is a significant environmental issue impacting Florida’s environment. The main danger, in this case, is material since plastic is not biodegradable, which can harm nature over a very long period. In the case of Florida, such pollution is especially hazardous due to the state’s long coastline. Prohibiting plastic bags is a potential solution to this problem since such a step would rapidly eliminate the major negative influencing factors. However, such action is influenced by several factors related to economic and legislative aspects, which makes it challenging to adopt a decision to ban such materials. In addition, such a prohibition will lead to changes in various spheres of human activity, which will have several positive factors. The advantages of the refusal to use plastic products relate to the state of ecology and, if adequately implemented, have a positive financial impact on the government and citizens. Therefore, a ban on plastic products is beneficial for Florida despite the presence of several disadvantages of this decision.
Discussion
The ban on plastic products has a range of benefits that positively impact the environmental condition of Florida. In a state’s geography, an essential factor is the location of a large area near the coastline. This feature creates additional risk since plastic materials entering the water threaten the ecosystem. Furthermore, the state is characterized by environmental pollution caused by the decomposition products of plastics in the surrounding waters (Kleinschmidt and Janosik 2). This impact is critical to the state’s ecosystem, given that discarded plastic bags can negatively impact the aquatic ecosystem for 20 years (Roscam Abbing 11). In this case, adopting a ban on plastic products will significantly reduce contamination of adjacent waters by stopping the release of substantial quantities of used materials into the water. Plastic also negatively impacts drainage systems, resulting in additional environmental risks and increased maintenance costs. Considering Florida’s exposure to natural disasters such as hurricanes, this negative effect of plastic bags is particularly critical. Overall, banning plastic products could have several significant benefits for Florida because such a ban would improve the state’s environment.
Part of the benefits associated with banning plastic products relates to financial costs and the use of natural resources. Using disposable plastic bags is a factor in the waste of businesses and consumers of various goods (Walker et al. 186). The government partially controls the use of plastic bags through increased taxation, which is a negative point for companies that depend on packaging materials. A ban on plastic products will create a necessity for companies to use alternatives. In turn, this will reduce prices for consumers in the long term. In addition, the transition to using bags composed of other materials is positive for increasing the income of enterprises producing related products. Another critical factor is using natural resources to produce different plastic products (Romer 28). In this aspect, using non-renewable resources negatively affects the planet’s ecosystem. This factor is particularly relevant for Florida, given the state’s location in relative proximity to oil production stations in the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, banning plastic use will positively impact price levels and reduce the state’s consumption of non-renewable natural resources.
Considerable disadvantages of banning plastic products in Florida are determined by current legislation and potential business losses. The legislative aspect significantly influences prohibiting a specific type of material. The determining factor in this aspect is the lack of a ban on the use of plastic products at the national level. Nevertheless, some states and territories of the US have adopted a ban on plastic. Florida law does not allow local municipalities to make such decisions, making it impossible to ban plastic products today (Kolcon 210). Thus, the ban on plastic bags determines the need for changes in state law. Another serious disadvantage is the potential losses of businesses directly related to plastic bags’ production and active use. Despite the possibility of using alternative materials, the adoption of a ban on plastic could lead to critical financial problems for certain companies. In general, the prohibition of plastic bags in Florida has several disadvantages because this action requires changes in legislation and business adaptation to the new conditions.
Conclusion
The ban on plastic products has many benefits for the environment and the public. Some states have adopted such a ban, but Florida law blocks this option. Considering the environmental condition of the state and surrounding waters, the inability to adopt restrictions or prohibitions on plastic products is a significant issue. The decision to ban plastic products has several potentially substantial benefits for the state. For instance, this decision would improve the state’s environmental condition and positively impact the costs to the citizens and local governments. In terms of business, such a solution will cause several changes, which may be disadvantageous to some companies initially. However, replacing plastic bags is advantageous for entrepreneurs and consumers in the long term. Thus, banning plastic products is the appropriate solution for Florida as it has several critical benefits for the state. Nevertheless, such a ban has a range of disadvantages, which require proper adaptation by the government and businesses.
Works Cited
Kleinschmidt, Jordan M., and Alexis M. Janosik. “Microplastics in Florida, United States: A Case Study of Quantification and Characterization with Intertidal Snails.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, 2021.
Kolcon, Margaret. “Plastic Prohibition: The Case for a National Single-Use Plastic Ban in the United States.” Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs, vol. 9, no. 2, 2021, pp. 194–226.
Romer, Jennie. Can I Recycle This?: A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics. Penguin Books, 2021.
Roscam Abbing, Michael. Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution. Island Press, 2019.
Walker, Thomas, et al. “The Case for a Plastic Tax: A Review of Its Benefits and Disadvantages within a Circular Economy”. Sustainability: Volume 4, edited by David M. Wasieleski and James Weber, Emerald Insight, 2020, pp. 185–211.