10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned

Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. 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. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? We should do likewise. 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]. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. 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]. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. Will others? Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. Your email address will not be published. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. 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. On other issues, from overfishing to deforestation, we have seen that consumer-facing companies like McDonalds, Unilever and Walmart can be exquisitely sensitive to the concerns of their customers. Plastic bags are everywhere. Gas, bloating, and intestinal discomfort. 2. Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. 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? High costs for cleanup 8. 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. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. 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. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. Harmful to human health 6. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. By being aware about these issues, you will be ready to present some strong arguments why plastic bags should be banned in your area and answer questions of people who will become your ally if you will persuade them about your good intentions. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. What can I do for you? This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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? The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. It has been projected that, if current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. 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. No! It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. 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. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Plastic utensils are convenient and straws are fun for kids, but much of that plastic eventually winds up in a landfill or as litter. edinburgh airport address. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. 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. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! update email soon. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. 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-. 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. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. 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. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. 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 subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. 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. All Rights Reserved. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. 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. Once a paper product has been contaminated with food or drink, it must be disposed of in a landfill. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. Thanks for signing up. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. 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. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land 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. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. Because they are so lightweight, plastic bags get easily picked up by wind and travel long distances by wind and water to pollute the nature. 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. 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]. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. 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 plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. 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. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. (Everything You Need To Know). Items made of plastic that come into contact with food can be recycled, whereas products made of paper that absorb both food and garbage cannot. 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. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. 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. 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. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. It topped 60 million tons (54.4 million metric tons) in 2010 based on a September 2018 report titled "Plastic Pollution."But China announced it plans to outlaw the production and sale of . 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. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. For example, some disabled people may not be able to properly hold or pick up a cup, so they need to use straws to drink properly. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. Your email address will not be published. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7].

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