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Such materials already exist in nature. 2. Its possible that using a plastic straw would make it easier for you to drink without spilling, but the long-term expenses are not worth it. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. 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. What do the bans accomplish? 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. A plastic straw ban could be a good step in the right direction, but we must use less single-use products overall to actually help the environment. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. All Rights Reserved. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. Using these non-renewable resources to make plastic bags is very short-sighted, considering that the typical useful life of each plastic bag is about 12 minutes and that the worlds oil reserves contain enough oil to cover our needs through 2050, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. 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. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. update email soon. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. (Everything You Need To Know)Continue, Many restaurants have banned plastic straws due to their harmful effects on the environment, and have switched to paper alternatives instead. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. 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. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. 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. Paper vs. Ideally, to be suitable for recycling, bags need to be clean to be accepted, which is often a problem, considering that we use them to carry groceries and potentially leaky goods. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . 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. 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. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. 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. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. 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. 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? 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. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. A complete ban on plastic straws would harm disabled people, which definitely isnt the goal of such a ban. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. 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. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. 12 Reasons for Banning Plastic Bags: Plastic Bags Are Made With Non-Renewable Energy Plastic Bags Use Up Lots Of Energy Plastic Bags End Up In The Ocean Beach Plastic Litter Is On The Rise Plastic Bags Kill Millions Of Animals Every Year Plastic Takes A Long Time To Disintegrate Plastic Is Harming The Ocean's Coral Plastic Bags Contain Toxins They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. 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. However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. Buy in bulk. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. . The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. 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. Yes, it should. 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. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. China 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned Manufacturers, Supply 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with High Quality, Wholesale 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with Low Price, High Quality. This could negatively reflect on their income. Why is plastic bad for the environment? Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. 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. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. In addition, despite the fact that the FDA has deemed this to be safe for consumption, chemicals from the plastic may seep into liquids, releasing substances that have the potential to influence estrogen levels. And the recent fracking boom, resulting in a surplus of oil, is fueling a subsequent rise in cracker plants, too. 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. 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. How can you help to ban plastic bags 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. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. 15. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. (Source: Water in the West), Analysis reveals how restoring relatively narrow forest buffers could substantially improve regional water quality and carbon storage in Costa Rica and elsewhere. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned REASONS 1. They're not alone. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. We all know what the debate is between plastic and paper straws but paper straws are horrible they will immediately break apart in your mouth and feel horrible. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. 2023 Get Green Now. Thanks for signing up. 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. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. Overall, the goal of a plastic straw ban should be to increase public awareness for single-use plastics and their nasty effects on the environment. Globally, 8 to 10 percent of our current oil supply goes to a plastic bag manufacture [4]. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. 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. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. 2. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. 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. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. 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. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! 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. 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. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. 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. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Your email address will not be published. Plastic bags. 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. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. 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. 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. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. There is a lot of research now underway on the health effects of ocean plastics, but we already know that some plastics, and the chemicals that attach themselves to plastics in the water, can cause cancer, genetic disruptions and other ill effects. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. Which brings us to the second part. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. BY Rob Jordan, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, As Colorado River wanes, water supplies and ecosystems hang in the balance, Riverfront forest restoration can deliver outsized benefits, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, An AI solution to climate models gravity wave problem, Beavers will become a bigger boon to river water quality as U.S. West warms. In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink.