There are multiple ways in which plastic bags negatively impact the environment. To begin with, plastic [bags] are derived from nonrenewable materials such as refined oil and natural gas accounting for 4% of the total annual use of oil and gas. In the United States, it requires 12 million barrels of oil annually to manufacture plastic bags. Moreover, oil and gas require to be dug underground, thus disrupting the ecosystem and causing potential consequences for human and environmental health. Therefore, it is important to really take into consideration the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.