Compared with paper bags,producing plastic ones uses less energy and water and generates less air pollution and solid waste. Plastic bags also take up less space in a landfill. But many ofthese bags never make it to landfills;instead, they go airborne after they are discarded—getting caught in fences,trees,even the throats ofbirds, and clogging gutters,sewers,and waterways.To avoid these impacts,the best alternative is to carry and re-use your own durable cloth bags