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Pennsylvanians use almost 4.6 billion plastic bags every year, and each bag typically only has a lifespan of 20 to 30 minutes, or the time it takes to drive home from the store. It is high time for Pittsburgh to ban the use of single-use plastic bags or, at the minimum, implement strategies to discourage their use.
Plastic bags are not easily recycled and are a common source of pollution. Plastic is produced from crude oil, so the continued use of plastics can contribute to the global release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.