Do plastic straws really make a difference? - Stanford Earth For instance, a lot of the plastic produced in Asian countries is for products that serve U.S. demandand the United States often sends plastic waste back to these countries for recycling.). It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. Sugar and oils are too expensive. We add another 8 million tons each year thats about five grocery bags full of plastic waste on every foot of shoreline around the world, according to a recent study. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. But these cases make up a small fraction of single-use plastic. The single biggest reason why people want to ban plastic straws is because of their negative effects on the environment. 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. edinburgh airport address. 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. Paper vs. Plastic bags. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. 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. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. 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]. 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. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. 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. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? [Pros & Cons of a Straw Ban] However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. 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. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. Because of this, the plants and wildlife in the area have a potential risk of absorbing the microplastics through their diets and drinking water. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. 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. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. 2. 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. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. 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. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. 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. NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. 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? Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. 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. 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. How? and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. The following are ten lines on why plastic bags need to be prohibited: 1) The careless disposal of trash in plastic bags leads to an increase in litter.2) The use of plastic bags contributes to the depletion of our natural resources, including water, trees, and agricultural products.3) Because of the danger it causes to marine life, the total Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Better alternatives are available 10. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. This includes grocery plastic bags, Ziplock-type bags, dry cleaning bags and bread bags. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? State Disclosures. 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]. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. 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. Additionally, awareness raising campaigns create a social pressure that should inspire local government and institutions to help in making changes at a bigger scale, like a regional ban or levy. These examples could go on for a long time. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. 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. Therefore, a plastic straw ban by itself is unlikely to be very effective in actually helping the environment, although it could act as a gateway into the reduction of other single-use plastics. 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. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? Required fields are marked *. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Will others? 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. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. 23 Reasons Why we should ban Plastic Bags | Environment Buddy 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. 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. Why we shouldn't ban plastic straws Antithesis Journal Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? The production of these bags is very energy intensive. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). She can remember all of her vehicles the Pontiac 6000, her familys car that was passed on to her when she went to college; the Volkswagen Rabbit, and later Fox, that took her through young adulthood; the Honda Civics,, Read More Car Recycling: Everything You Need to Know (With Statistics)Continue, Whether youre a scuba diver, snorkeler, or amateur swimmer, the ocean is a playground where you come to explore the beauty of nature and the difference from your regular lifes environment. 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. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. If this happens, there are a few scenarios you can follow: The best thing you can do with those old plastic bags that have been stashed in that overflowing drawer in your kitchen is to recycle them. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. We should do likewise. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. 2. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. Straws, Ives says, made the perfect target: too inconsequential to really be missed but so ubiquitous that their absence would be noticed. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. What do the bans accomplish? What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. 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. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. 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. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. 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 As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. 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. 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. 10 Reasons You Should Give Up Plastic Straws - sustainablemotown One of the most significant negative effects that plastic bags have on the natural world is that it takes a very long time for them to degrade.In addition, the breakdown of plastic bags in the sun results in the release of hazardous compounds into the surrounding soil, and the combustion of plastic bags results in the release of a poisonous material into the surrounding air, contributing to the problem of ambient air pollution. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. Plastic straws shouldn't be banned - The Rubicon The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. 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. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. 2023 Get Green Now. Additionally, a plastic straw ban could also act as a gateway into other single-use plastic bans for items like plastic bottles and plastic bags, which are worse for the environment than plastic straws. 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. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. 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. 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. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? This means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned REASONS 1. Such materials already exist in nature. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. 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]. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. McDonald's recently announced . 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. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. 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]. Do you wonder why? Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? Let us know if you liked this article. 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. 2. 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. Ms. LISA PAI . You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. They're not alone. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection 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. 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. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Not easy to recycle 7. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs 12 Compelling Reasons For Banning Plastic Bags [2023 Update] - MindsetEco Plastic items are more sanitary than other alternatives. Don't Ban Straws - Reason.com 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. 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. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. All rights reserved. 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. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. Many of you may have heard it already. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - david-el.co.il Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. 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. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned 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. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. 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. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. 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. And Starbucks, which uses an estimated one billion plastic straws per year, is phasing them out in favor of paper ones. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - maktabyar.org Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. 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]. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. 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. 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. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives? Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Cause of environmental pollution 2. 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. 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) 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. 8 good reasons to give up plastic straws - CareElite According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7].