Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back. 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. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . But this comes along with many unanswered questions. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. We all are just trying to do our job well. Plastic bags. 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. 1. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy 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. 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. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. Sugar and oils are too expensive. 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. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Read more about us. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. 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. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. 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. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. 15. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. 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. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. 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. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. 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. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. 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. Our reliance on these plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. Using a straw directs a concentrated stream of liquid onto a localized area of the teeth, which can cause the enamel to wear away and lead to dental disease. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. State Disclosures. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. 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. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. 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. Come with external costs 9. How exactly does the use of plastic do harm to the environment?Plastic has a very long half-life in the environment, during which it poses a danger to animals and spreads toxic chemicals.Additionally, plastic is a contributor to the warming of the planet.Nearly every type of plastic is manufactured using chemicals that are leftover from the manufacturing of fossil fuels, which contribute to global warming (gas, oil and even coal). 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. 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. We are working hard to improve our content. The resulting number is staggering. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. Killing wildlife 5. Since their birth, baby turtles have only one goal to get to the sea and swim into deep waters where they will feed and if successful grow into adult turtles. 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. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. Learn how your comment data is processed. Already in 2001, researchers found that the mass of microscopic plastic fragments in the North Pacific Central Gyre was 6 times higher than of plankton. 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. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . According to estimates made by scientists, there are 7.5 million polluting straws around the shores of the United States, and anywhere from 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws throughout the coastlines of the rest of the globe. Such materials already exist in nature. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). 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. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. 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. Nows the Time. Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Busca trabajos relacionados con Reasons why smoking should be banned articles o contrata en el mercado de freelancing ms grande del mundo con ms de 22m de trabajos. Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. Post date: 18 yesterday. These dyes on their own can leach toxins, but they can also be contaminated with traces of heavy metals such as lead or cadmium, both of which affect kidney health and proper functioning of other organs. 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]. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. 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? Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? 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. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. Why? Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. 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. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. Put simply, single-use plastics are goods that are made primarily from fossil fuelbased chemicals (petrochemicals) and are meant to be disposed of right after useoften, in mere minutes. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. You should examine what alternatives are available and whether local retailers, who often operate with a limited monthly budget, have the ability to make the switch. 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. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. 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. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. 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]. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. You probably already saw the video, but if you didnt, you can watch it below (WARNING: Graphic Content): Supporters of plastic straw bans claim that the ban will help reduce our use of single-use plastics. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. Straws, Ives says, made the perfect target: too inconsequential to really be missed but so ubiquitous that their absence would be noticed. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. 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. What can I do for you? Plastic utensils are convenient and straws are fun for kids, but much of that plastic eventually winds up in a landfill or as litter. 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]. Low rated: 2. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. 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. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. 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. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! 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. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. 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. Similar fate has met dolphins, seals, cats, dogs, deer and many other animals which got severely cut on their bodies due to plastic bag entanglement. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? But should plastic straws really be banned? Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. Thanks for signing up. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. We should just stick to plastic. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. . These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. Better alternatives are available 10. 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. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Do you wonder why? Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. Fortunately, microorganisms can also use cheap, renewable substrates, such as food wastes, biogas methane, carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. What does occur in most instances is that when out in the environment, the plastic breaks up into tiny microscopic pieces that get deposited in soils (where we grow food) or contaminate waterways. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. It means that most bags can be recycled. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. We will 2. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules.
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