Problem with polythene bags


• Once used and disposed improperly, polythene bags becomes litter and finds it’s way into waterways, parks, beaches and streets reducing their aesthetics
• If burned, they pollute air with toxic fumes that contain chemicals including dioxins, which have been linked with cancer.
• They are a threat to aquatic life and livestock whereby if ingested, the polythene bags fill the gut of the animal and kill it, and remain intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal
• Flimsy polythene bags litter clogs drainage and sewer lines increasing the costs of maintenance, and if unattended lead to flooding of urban areas during heavy rains
• Polythene bags trap stagnant water which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes that cause malaria which can kill people
• The decomposition of polythene bags takes about 1000 years and this means that they remain in the environment for a very long time.

Question

What are the negative impacts associated with polythene bags within your locality?