10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned

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. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Ms. LISA PAI . Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. Better alternatives are available 10. Come with external costs 9. Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution found on beaches and in oceans all over the world. 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-. 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. Activists Say Straws Should Be Banned Because They Are a 'Gateway Plastic' Advocates hope a straw ban will be the first step toward broader plastic prohibitions. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. 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. 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.) That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. A laboratory photograph of microplastics found in the Corsica River in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Maryland, An albatross found dead with a belly full of plastic on Midway Atoll. Why? According to a study carried out in 2013, up to 35 percent of turtle deaths were caused by plastic ingestion and the probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year [9]. 23 Reasons Why we should ban Plastic Bags | Environment Buddy Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. In the United States, California has banned single-use plastic bags in 2016, but the city of San Francisco has locally issued this ban already in 2012 and consumers pay a little fee for other alternatives like compostable bags or recycled paper bags. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - maktabyar.org Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. 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. 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. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives? These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. According to some estimates, the cost of plastic bag cleanup is about 17 cents per bag [14] and the cost is paid by us once again. Why is plastic bad for the environment? In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. 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. A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world - Environment 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. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. They're not alone. And, if you dont like wearing the same shirt or pants, Read More Dont wash it if it doesnt look dirtyContinue, At age 50, Kay is a little over halfway through her life as a driver. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Participate in beach or river cleanups. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. These costs include the true environmental costs of resource extraction and depletion, the loss of quality of life, economic loss from littering, and wildlife loss. (Everything You Need To Know). The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. They are also capable of being ingested by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, which in turn causes the animals injury and, in the case of fish, allows them to enter the human food chain. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. Post date: 18 yesterday. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. 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. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. Gas, bloating, and intestinal discomfort. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. TIME for Kids | Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? 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. All Rights Reserved. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. 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]. Straws, Ives says, made the perfect target: too inconsequential to really be missed but so ubiquitous that their absence would be noticed. There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. Arguments Why Plastic Should Be Banned - Green Matters Thats a promising start. 15. Plastic straws, being so lightweight and non-biodegradable, are readily carried into the water, where they eventually break down into smaller and smaller pieces of microplastic. However, one thing we know, is that by introducing a pollutant that may never break down in the environment can have implications that will far exceed any of our predictions. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. We should just stick to plastic. 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. 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. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. 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. What can I do for you? As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. Some tributaries of the river have been filled with plastic waste to the level that you could almost walk across them without getting your feet wet. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. . Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land Harmful to human health 6. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Why Plastic Bags And Straws Should Not Be Banned 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. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection PDF Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. In early January 2020, China joined the growing movement of more than 120 countries pledging to ban single-use plastics.The country of 1.4 billion citizens is the No. If we ban single-use plastic straws we will have to turn to the dangerous alternatives.In source How? According to a study that was published by Bloomberg News, it is predicted that the percentage of contaminated ocean water that is caused by plastic straws and stirrers is a shockingly modest 0.03 percent. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. Litter can be the first stage in a waste stream that enters waterways as plastics tossed on the street are washed away by rain or travel via storm drains into rivers and streams. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. 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. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. 2023 Get Green Now. Not easy to recycle 7. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Why Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? - Nationwide Plastics 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]. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. It means that most bags can be recycled. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. 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. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? TOP 10 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned BEST and NEWEST NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. 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. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. Our reliance on these plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, Plastic waste that clogs water drainage channels and river tributaries of many Asian cities increases exposure of residents to water-borne diseases, as it creates a toxic soup that remains stranded in one place for prolonged periods of time. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. While these countries and municipalities have been making strides in their part of reducing circulation of plastic bags, in total there are 195 countries in the world [19] and the issue of plastic pollution is still getting out of our hands. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. 300 to 700 plastic bags pass through the hands of an average American in just one year [8] and a survey of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concluded that the average household in the United Kingdom stores around 40 plastic shopping bags at home [2]. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. The trend has already started. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. Microplastics were found in soft drinks like Coca Cola, in tap water, in seafood It has contaminated our food chain, so it should not surprise us that it can be tracked in our body. Heres everything you need to know about the most ubiquitous (and avoidable) kind of plastic waste: the kind made to be tossed in mere minutes. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. Banning Straws and Bags Won't Solve our Plastic Problem The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. As a result, the ban will reduce the number of plastic straws polluting the ocean. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. 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]. What about you? But, are paper straws really better for the environment? In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. Petroleum-based plastic bags are composed of very resistant synthetic polymers that may take up to 1,000 years or never until they completely degrade in natural environments [6]. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. 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. 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. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? The explanation is quite simple. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. Its Plastic Incineration. Since plastic bag recycling requires a specialized equipment that can break down the plastic and mold it into a new product, most municipalities do not have the budget to include their recycling in their waste management program. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . A 2018 study of coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific has confirmed that plastic waste deposited on coral reefs promotes outbreaks of diseases that gradually destroy whole reef colonies [12]. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. Required fields are marked *. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? This includes grocery plastic bags, Ziplock-type bags, dry cleaning bags and bread bags. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Problematic degradation 4. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. 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. Single-Use Plastics 101 | NRDC This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Thanks for signing up. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most commonly recycled plastics and the material that makes up most water and soda bottles, can be turned into everything from polyester fabric to automotive parts. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? | Persuasive Writing | Scholastic Your email address will not be published. 8 good reasons to give up plastic straws - CareElite Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. However, in 2014, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) supported the first project to calculate the real cost of plastic, including adverse environmental impacts of its production, use and disposal. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. Plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds will no longer be sold in Britain as part of a plan to eradicate "avoidable plastic waste" by 2042, and Prime Minister Theresa May actively called on other leaders in the Commonwealth to implement similar policies. 2. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. 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. Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? [Pros & Cons of a Straw Ban] If youd like to learn more about how plastic straws negatively impact the environment, you can check out this article I wrote about the environmental impact of plastic straws. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. The first country to ban single-use plastic bags was Bangladesh in 2002 when plastic bag litter clogged drainage channels and contributed to destructive floods. 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. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. The reason to worry is that scientists do not know how our metabolism and immunity will react to the increased concentration of plastic particles in our system. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. But these cases make up a small fraction of single-use plastic. Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. 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. These examples could go on for a long time. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. Activists Say Straws Should Be Banned Because They Are a 'Gateway Plastic' Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. 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. For example, a reusable jute bag should last at least 4 years, during which it can prevent the use of 600 single-use plastic bags. | | Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. 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. This form of ban could lead to a reduction in landfill across the country, going a long way to protect the nature and serenity of the area. 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. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world.