10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned

Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. There is only one requirement these plastic bags need to be dry and clean, otherwise they contaminate the entire batch and your effort will do more harm than good. While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws. Let us know if you liked this article. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. The first is to invest in better waste collection in the handful of countries that account for most of the plastic flowing into the ocean. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. For those governments that are opposed to full bans on plastic bags, another option is to institute a plastic bag tax, where consumers or retailers would pay a small fee for each plastic bag. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Most retailers will get your point, but it can also happen that they will not be willing to sell you some products without placing it in their plastic bags because of having to oblige with some hygiene and sanitary standards (for example when selling meat products). Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, In the United States alone, statistics reach up to 12 million barrels of oil that are used each year to produce even more plastic bags 100 billion more, to give you the precise number [5]. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. The most heartbreaking part of this is that the affected animals are not aware they eat something that will make them feel miserable and will slowly kill them. More and more states are looking to pass a new kind of recycling law that asks manufacturers to foot the bill for the waste created by their products. Which brings us to the second part. Plastic waste, mostly broken down into tiny particles, floats in huge blobs amid ocean current patterns called gyres that together cover as much as 40 percent of Earth's ocean surface. To date, around 60 countries and municipalities around the world have instituted plastic bag bans, and additional seven countries are planning to enforce the law in the closest future. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Once a person gets into the habit of bringing reusable bags when shopping, it is not much of an inconvenience at all. As part of the Break Free From Plastic movement, Greenpeace volunteers conducted an audit of plastic pollution along coastlines, sifting through tens of thousands of individual pieces across 42 countries to identify the pollutions sources. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. Tangled in trees and fences along roads, floating in water, lying on the ground in parks and forests, surrounding garbage bins, washed off on beaches. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Problematic degradation 4. Even human footprints left in the sand represent mountain-like obstacles in their path and waves washing up on the beach are another challenge, as they thrust them back on the dry land to try once again before finally being picked up by a return current and start swimming for their life. On other issues, from overfishing to deforestation, we have seen that consumer-facing companies like McDonalds, Unilever and Walmart can be exquisitely sensitive to the concerns of their customers. The truth is that we do not know yet the full scale of negative impacts plastic waste can have on marine and terrestrial environments because it hasnt been around long enough to allow us to assess possible scenarios of its influence on natural cycles. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Therefore, a plastic straw ban by itself is unlikely to be very effective in actually helping the environment, although it could act as a gateway into the reduction of other single-use plastics. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. You cannot recycle them in the regular curbside collection of plastic, but you should be able to find many larger food stores and retailers (for example: Target, Walmart, Tesco, Morrisons, etc.) We should do likewise. Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. by TFK Kid Reporter Maria Suarez, 10 Bellaire, Texas Plastic straws should not be banned until we can find alternatives that are affordable, environmentally friendly, and acceptable for disabled people. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Additionally, awareness raising campaigns create a social pressure that should inspire local government and institutions to help in making changes at a bigger scale, like a regional ban or levy. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. As a result, they are thrown away and frequently wind up in the ocean, where they pollute the water and eventually kill marine birds, animals, and fish. New York State and Hawaii just passed theirs, set to go into effect in 2020, and Californias bag ban, which was passed in 2014, has been shown to have reduced plastic bag usage by 85 percent (with some customers opting to pay a 10 cent fee for thicker plastic bags) and has reduced coastal pollution. Participate in beach or river cleanups. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. Better alternatives are available 10. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. As a result, the actual recycling rate for plastic bags globally is between 5 to 15 percent, while in the United States it makes only 1 percent a year [17]. Coca-Cola has said that it alone produces three million tons of plastic packaging each year, equivalent to a terrifying 200,000 plastic bottles per minute. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. Our waterway plastic pollution is particularly concentrated: Just ten rivers carry 93 percent of the worlds total amount of plastic that enters the oceans via rivers each year. 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Plastic bags have become such a nuisance because we as consumers use them excessively even when not needed and authorities havent figured out effective ways of dealing with them as waste. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources and through their extraction and production, they emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change. Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. One of the most significant negative effects that plastic bags have on the natural world is that it takes a very long time for them to degrade.In addition, the breakdown of plastic bags in the sun results in the release of hazardous compounds into the surrounding soil, and the combustion of plastic bags results in the release of a poisonous material into the surrounding air, contributing to the problem of ambient air pollution. Sugar and oils are too expensive. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. Car Recycling: Everything You Need to Know (With Statistics), Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine Ecosystems, What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern? In many instances, it may seem too awkward for you to refuse the bag, so you accept it this one time, but you should know that it is fine to say no politely even at this stage if you dont want that bag. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. Now, lets get into the negatives of a plastic straw ban: While banning plastic straws might help the environment in some aspects (well talk about this later), there are also many reasons against (or cons) of a plastic straw ban. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. All Rights Reserved. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. Tweet, call, or send letters to these companies to ask them to switch to more durable, recyclable, compostable, renewable, and/or recycled-content packaging with less fossil fuelderived plastic. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. No! This could negatively reflect on their income. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. According to a 2017 study, more than half of non-fiber plastic, which excludes synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, comes from plastic packaging alone, much of which is for single-use items. CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. A 2017 Environmental Sciences and Technology study reported that up to 95 percent of plastic waste enters oceans from one of 10 riverseight in Asia and two in Africa. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. For example, some disabled people may not be able to properly hold or pick up a cup, so they need to use straws to drink properly. Many of the chemicals in plastics are known endocrine disruptors,and research has suggested that human exposure could cause health impacts including hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems like infertility, and even cancer. | | Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, one of the main sources of food for some species of sea turtles, especially the critically-endangered Leatherback turtles. Unfortunately, such costs are typically not included in most economic analyses, as they are not easy to calculate because the equation would have to involve many indirect variables. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. Yes, it should. The explanation is quite simple. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses.

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