The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really devastating. While there is widespread support for the using of plastic bags based solely on their convenience, the damage to the environment needs to be controlled. There is no way to strictly limit the effects of plastic bags on the environment because there is no disposal method that will really help eliminate the problem. While reusing them is the first step, most people either don’t or can’t base on store policies. These bags are not durable enough to stand up to numerous trips to the store. The biggest problem with this is that once they have been soiled, they end up in the trash, then in the landfill or they will be burned. Either solution is very poor for the environment. Burning emits toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of VOCs in the air while landfills hold them definitely as part of the plastic waste problem throughout the globe.