Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. CRAIG CRIDDLE: In addition to recycling more and reusing materials more, we need new materials that can do the same jobs as current plastics, but are biodegradable, nontoxic and do not concentrate in food chains. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. Globally, 8 to 10 percent of our current oil supply goes to a plastic bag manufacture [4]. According to the findings of a study that was carried out in 2019 by students at the University of Washington, 78 percent of respondents used straws made of biodegradable materials that are in compliance with the prohibition, and 68 percent used utensils that are in compliance with the ban. Also, giving a speech in . Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. 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. Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. 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). However, if a plastic straw ban is properly implemented with education about single-use plastics, then the ban could encourage the public to reduce their usage of other single-use plastics as well. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Oene Moedt-Foto Natura/Minden via National Geographic Images, Major Corporations and Single-Use Plastics, secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and research has suggested that human exposure, 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic, one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector, could reach 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030, an audit of plastic pollution along coastlines. We should do likewise. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. Made from fossil fuels 3. Speak out in support of local plastic bans, whether by calling your local government representative, submitting an op-ed to your citys newspaper, or simply starting conversations with neighbors. Straws, Ives says, made the perfect target: too inconsequential to really be missed but so ubiquitous that their absence would be noticed. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. Not only does the waste destroy the land itself, but when plastic is incinerated (as is the case for unrecyclable plastic at some illegal facilities) its toxic fumes quickly become a health hazard for residents, leading to everything from skin rashes to cancer. If the answer is yes, you should know that this inadvertent overconsumption of single-use plastic carries with it a very high cost to the environment, which in turn also negatively affects our health. In 2015 researchers from the University of Georgia estimated that between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic per year make their way into the oceans via people living within 30 miles of a coast. Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Facebook; Contact Now . The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, Harmful to human health 6. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Nows the Time. Problematic degradation 4. All you need to do is paste your ZIP code and then see the list of stores with bag drop-off in your nearest location. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. Such materials already exist in nature. Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. This ban has led to an increase in the demand for sustainable plastic alternatives and has also created space for several plant-based materials in the market. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. Not only is plastic estimated to kill millions of marine animals and seabirds each year, but its also contaminating seafood that humans have relied on for millennia, particularly with microplastics in animals guts. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. The answer isnt as simple as you may think: While its true that paper straws arent as harmful as plastic straws, this doesnt mean that, Read More Paper vs. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Carrying reusable bags and bottles is one great way to avoid single-use plastics in our day-to-day lives; more on preventing plastic waste can be found below. Ill talk about this more in the next section: By itself, a plastic straw ban is unlikely to have a large impact on the environment. The manufacturing of reusable bags or compostable alternatives to plastic bags offers a new opportunity to create sustainable products and provide jobs that go with them. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. This includes waste collection, regular cleanups to remove plastic bag litter along the roads or blown away from landfills and then even processing at landfill sites. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Paper vs. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Buy in bulk. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world - Environment This could negatively reflect on their income. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation 2023 Get Green Now. Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Spare Yourself the Guilt Trip This Earth DayIts Companies That Need to Clean Up Their Acts, These Fanciful Sea Creatures Were Carried in on the Tide. In 2015 a mere 24 of these ethane cracker facilities in the United States had the combined carbon output of 3.8 million passenger vehicles. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. For many of us it is hard to imagine that something as small as a plastic bag can actually cause flooding, but residents of some cities in Bangladesh have been struggling with this problem every monsoon season for the past two decades [3]. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step, offering a natural place to start with low-hanging fruit so long as its part of a much more fundamental shift away from single-use plastics across the value chains of these companies and our economy. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. 5 Metals in your Home that can be Recycled for Cash, How exactly bidets offer a healthier, green option for your bathroom, A Closer Look at General Motors (GM) Sustainability Initiatives. (Source: Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment), Stanford scientists are among a growing number of researchers harnessing artificial intelligence techniques to bring more realistic representations of ubiquitous atmospheric ripples into global climate models. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Why we shouldn't ban plastic straws Antithesis Journal The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. The phthalate DEHP, as just one example from dozens, is often added to plastic goods like shower curtains and garden hoses to make them more flexiblebut was also found to be a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. But only a few of us realize that each time we accept those disposable plastic grocery bags at store checkout, we actively participate in wasting energy and depleting non-renewable resources. This is because the customers voluntarily reduce their consumption of plastic bags, which in turn provides enough time for retailers to find suitable alternatives and switch to them. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 2. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Additionally, someone has to pay the cost of dealing with plastic bags in the waste stream. The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. Stanford Reportspoke withJim Leape, co-director of theStanford Center for Ocean Solutions, andCraig Criddle, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, about the path to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Another example of a locally issued ban is Seattle where not only single-use plastic bags have been banned but also single-use compostable and biodegradable bags. Once a paper product has been contaminated with food or drink, it must be disposed of in a landfill. The consumed plastic congests the digestive tracts of these animals, and can lead to health issues such as infections, painful intestinal blockage, starvation or death by suffocation. Killing wildlife 5. New and sustainable business models are needed to address the current plastic deluge and also to enable a new generation of sustainable materials and technologies. Straws make up roughly 4 percent of the plastic waste in terms of the number of pieces, but a far smaller percentage in terms of the weight.Due to the fact that the typical weight of a straw is just around one sixty-seventh of an ounce, or 42 grams, the total weight of all those billions of straws combined only accounts for roughly 2,000 tons of the almost 9 million tons of plastic debris that enters the sea each year. Without proper education, few people would know the purpose of the ban, and they would continue using other single-use plastics which could be even worse for the environment. 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. In fact, the global backlash against plastic straws likely started after researchers off the coast of Costa Rica shared a viral video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. We should just stick to plastic. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. . Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. We can also decrease costs through improved bioprocessing methods, through metabolic engineering and by exploring and harnessing the incredible diversity of bioplastic-making systems that evolution has already created. Sugar and oils are too expensive. This is the case particularly in Southeast Asia, which has begun to import much of the plastic that used to go to China for recycling. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? It may not seem like much, but when you imagine how many bags they have to provide throughout a year, you will quickly realize that plastic bags are costly. Plastic utensils are convenient and straws are fun for kids, but much of that plastic eventually winds up in a landfill or as litter. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. 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. In fact, plastic bags are considered by many recycling facilities the number one contaminant and their removal from the recycling stream costs municipalities close to $1 million a year [18]. 1. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. 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. 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. The process of drilling for plastics source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. Why Plastic Bags And Straws Should Not Be Banned They're not alone. That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. 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 Earths ocean surface. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . In the spirit of eliminating waste, plastic straws appeared to be a way to further the cause: straws aren't essential to the dining experience, and by banning them, oceans, streets, and general society would theoretically benefit. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. The explanation is quite simple. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. High costs for cleanup 8. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? As plastic bags tend to get caught in recycling machinery, most recycling facilities do not have the capacity to recycle plastic bags and therefore do not accept them. How? NRDC scientist Jennifer Sass says yes and debunks the skeptics claim that in trying to wean ourselves off plastic bags, were only creating more troubles. 13.07.2022 Harry Brown THE TOP 10 REASONS TO DO NOT USE THE STRAW O This requires the usage of 500 million straws Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful Every day in the United States. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. Some countries have decided to do so after directly experiencing negative impacts of plastic bags, other countries have implemented the ban to reach their sustainability goals. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. You can be sure of one thing, though. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. All rights reserved. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. 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. Your email address will not be published. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. It started with cardboard straws, but once plastic production in America increased, people realized it was quicker and cheaper to produce plastic straws. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. The Last Straw: 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Plastic Straws Thats bad news for our carbon reduction goals: if plastic production continues unabated, its greenhouse gas emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030equal to adding nearly 300 new coal-fired power plantseven as the need to curb global climate change becomes more urgent. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. PDF Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection We all are just trying to do our job well. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, microplastics are so small that they move straight through water filtration, Read More What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern? PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. In Taiwan, which was once overflowing with so much trash that it spurred public protest and the nickname Garbage Island, companies now either manage their own waste or subsidize government-run infrastructure. Single-use plastics in particularespecially small items like straws, bags, and cutleryare traditionally hard to recycle because they fall into the crevices of recycling machinery and therefore are often not accepted by recycling centers. It means that most bags can be recycled. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. In this essay on should plastic be banned, it is very important to put forth the fact that there are many bodies of health and environmental governance around the world who argue that plastic ban can be problematic stating the following reasons-. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned Other states such as Hawaii, cities such as Seattle and New York, and corporations such as Amazon and Starbucks are also considering or have initiated plastic phase-out plans. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. It is predicted that each year 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean, with 1.152.41 tons of that plastic being carried there by major rivers all over the world. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. Required fields are marked *. 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. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. And cracker plantswhich break, or crack, ethane molecules, a component of natural gas, into the chemical building blocks of plastic productsare energy intensive and highly polluting. Activists Say Straws Should Be Banned Because They Are a 'Gateway Plastic'
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