‘Disintegrating’ plastic

I’d like to comment on Cielito Habito’s article “Drowning in plastic” (7/20/18) where he said, among other things, that the “average plastic bag will take 10-20 years to decompose.” Apparently on account of that factoid, the use of plastic bags is now being prohibited.

Paper bags have thus become shoppers’ nightmare for being easily torn and often causing groceries and other purchases to drop on the floor. There is simply no practical way to carry fully stuffed paper bags but to cradle them in one’s arms. Gone, indeed, is the convenience provided by plastic bags with sturdy handles.

Here’s the thing: In front of my house is a lamppost whose top was covered with a plastic bag to prevent rain from short-circuiting it. Exposed to the rain and the sun all year round, the bag just fell off the lamppost. When I picked up some pieces of it on the ground, they disintegrated between my fingers almost like powder! That is a fact. So what 10-20 years was Habito talking about?

DANICA R. MORTIZ, danicarmor8008@gmail.com