Every once in a while the government here passes out an order banning shop keepers from providing plastic bags to customers for carrying their purchases, with (31)lasting effect. Plastic bags are very popular (32) both retailers as well as consumers because they are cheap, strong, lightweight, functional, (33)well as a hygienic means of carrying food as well as (34) goods. Even though they are one of the modem conveniences that we seem to be unable to do(35), they are responsible for causing pollution, (36)wildlife, and using(37)the precious resources of the earth. About a hundred billion plastic bags are used each year in the US(38). And then, when one considers the huge economies and populations of India, China, Europe, and other parts of the world, the numbers can be (39). The problem is further exacerbated by the developed countries(40)off their plastic waste to developing countries like India.
