If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink. In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? (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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Your email address will not be published. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). 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. 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. 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. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. edinburgh airport address. 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. 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 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. 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]. Read more about us. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. 2015-2023 Greentumble. 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. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. 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. 4. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. 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. 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.) Sugar and oils are too expensive. In 2015 researchers from the University of Georgia estimated that between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic per year make their way into the oceans via people living within 30 miles of a coast. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. Harmful to human health 6. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. Killing wildlife 5. 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 bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. 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. 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. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. What about you? 2. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. Gas, bloating, and intestinal discomfort. The majority of plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. Carrying reusable bags and bottles is one great way to avoid single-use plastics in our day-to-day lives; more on preventing plastic waste can be found below. Do you wonder why? Come with external costs 9. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. 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. Es gratis registrarse y presentar tus propuestas laborales. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. Communities and consumers can play vital roles in sparking action. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. 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. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). ), then its clean! And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Yes, it should. Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. The resulting number is staggering. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? Your email address will not be published. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? 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New York State and Hawaii just passed theirs, set to go into effect in 2020, and Californias bag ban, which was passed in 2014, has been shown to have reduced plastic bag usage by 85 percent (with some customers opting to pay a 10 cent fee for thicker plastic bags) and has reduced coastal pollution. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. All rights reserved. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). Which brings us to the second part. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. High costs for cleanup 8. They're not alone. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? 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? 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. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. Author: floridadep.gov. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Banning straws may confer 'moral license' allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. What can I do for you? Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). 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. Cause of environmental pollution 2. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. Ms. LISA PAI . This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. 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. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? 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. 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. . We should do likewise. 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. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. 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. 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. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. Its Plastic Incineration. Our waterway plastic pollution is particularly concentrated: Just ten rivers carry 93 percent of the worlds total amount of plastic that enters the oceans via rivers each year. 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. Low rated: 2. 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? 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 Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. 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. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. 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. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. 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. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? 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. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. The trend has already started. 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]. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. Better alternatives are available 10. 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. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? 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. 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. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. 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. 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. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. 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. 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. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. Plastic bags. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. 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. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. 15. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. 2. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. 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. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. Another example of a locally issued ban is Seattle where not only single-use plastic bags have been banned but also single-use compostable and biodegradable bags. 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. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws.
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