塑料袋收费并不是有效的环保方法 It is Not Effective to Charge for Plastic Bags

At present most supermarkets is pursuing the policy of charging for plastic bags instead of giving them free. This policy is carried out for controlling pollution since the pollution resulting from plastic bags has become a big threat to urban environment. Though daily use of free bags in the markets is tremendous in number, I don't think consumers' paying for plastic bags can take effect in controlling pollution.

现今大部分的超市都推行塑料袋收费政策，不再提供免费塑料袋。这项政策的实施是为了控制环境污染，因为塑料袋造成的污染已经成为都市环境的一大威胁。然而日常人们使用的塑料袋数目巨大，我认为消费者为塑料袋买单并不能有效地控制环境污染。

To begin with, it is unfair that only consumers should shoulder the responsibility of environmental pollution caused by plastic bags, providing free plastic bags to consumers is a marketing strategy adopted by supermarkets. Although supermarkets have to pay for the plastic bags, consumers bring them far greater economic rewards in comparison to this minimal cost. From this point of view, it is the supermarkets that have gained the hidden profits through free bags while consumers only get shopping convenience they should have.

首先，只有消费者为塑料袋造成的环境污染承担责任，这是不公平的，因为为消费者提供免费塑料袋是超市采取的一种营销策略。尽管是超市购买的塑料袋，但是这项花费相比消费者为超市所带来的回报来说是微不足道的。由此来看，超市一方通过免费塑料袋获得了隐藏利润，消费者只是享有他们应有的便利而已。

In addition, it is over-optimistic and bit simple-minded to contend that charging for plastic bags can help reduce pollution problem. My observation tells me that in most supermarkets plastic bags are offered by salespeople according to customers' actual needs. Since the need for shopping bags does exist, charging for those bags is not so effective. Besides not only the supermarkets provide free plastic bags, most the food markets and shops do. Therefore it is unrealistic to expect this policy to help reduce the pollution problem caused by plastic bags.

其次，期望塑料袋收费政策起到减少其所带来的环境污染问题，这样的想法过于乐观和简单些了。通过亲自观察我发现，在大多数超市里收银员都是根据客户的实际需要来提供塑料袋的。如此消费者对塑料袋的需要一直存在，那么塑料袋收费根本没有效果。此外，免费塑料袋不只有超市才提供，大部分的菜市场和商店都会为消费者提供免费塑料袋。因此，期望这个政策减少塑料造成的污染是不太现实的。

In short, it is not a wise policy to charge shopping bags. To protect the environment, people should take varied of effective measures.

总之，购物塑料袋收费这一举措并不明智。人们应该采取各种各样的有效措施来保护环境。