Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. (Source: Water in the West), Analysis reveals how restoring relatively narrow forest buffers could substantially improve regional water quality and carbon storage in Costa Rica and elsewhere. 13.07.2022 Harry Brown THE TOP 10 REASONS TO DO NOT USE THE STRAW O This requires the usage of 500 million straws Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful Every day in the United States. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. 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. 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. We should do likewise. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. 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. 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. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. You can be sure of one thing, though. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. But should plastic straws really be banned? What can I do for you? Cause of environmental pollution 2. 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. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. Not only does the waste destroy the land itself, but when plastic is incinerated (as is the case for unrecyclable plastic at some illegal facilities) its toxic fumes quickly become a health hazard for residents, leading to everything from skin rashes to cancer. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. An additional problem with plastic grocery bags recycling is their cleanliness. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. 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 can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? 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. These costs include the true environmental costs of resource extraction and depletion, the loss of quality of life, economic loss from littering, and wildlife loss. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. It has been projected that, if current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. 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. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. 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. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. 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? 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. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Which brings us to the second part. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. (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. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. Also, giving a speech in . What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? 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. If we ban single-use plastic straws we will have to turn to the dangerous alternatives.In source 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. This means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned REASONS 1. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. State Disclosures. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. 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. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. 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. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. 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. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. 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. Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? 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. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. 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. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. There is a lot of research now underway on the health effects of ocean plastics, but we already know that some plastics, and the chemicals that attach themselves to plastics in the water, can cause cancer, genetic disruptions and other ill effects. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. 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. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. Made from fossil fuels 3. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. 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. So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. The resulting number is staggering. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. 2. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. 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. This could negatively reflect on their income. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. 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. 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. 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. We all are just trying to do our job well. 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. We are working hard to improve our content. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. 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. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. Your email address will not be published. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. 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. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Plastic straws have an especially high propensity to end up in our rivers after being thrown away. Better alternatives are available 10. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. Plastic bags are everywhere. 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]. 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. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . Some opposers of the plastic straw ban say that a ban is unlikely to actually help the environment, as plastic straws do not make up a large percentage of plastic in the ocean. 4. 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. 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. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned, [1] https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf, [2] https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/getting-rid-of-plastic-bags-a-windfall-for-supermarkets-but-it-wont-do-much-for-the-environment/, [3] https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/04/09/plastic-chokes-dhakas-drainage/, [4] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bags-petroleum/, [5] https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2935417&page=1, [6] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/, [7] https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124006/pdf, [8] https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/rare-sea-turtles-eating-plastic-at-record-rate, [9] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.12126, [10] http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.en.php?id=934, [11] http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2008/12/plastic-bags-and-animals-making-the-wild-safe-for-wildlife/, [12] http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6374/460, [13] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/22/microplastics-found-in-human-stools-for-the-first-time, [14] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bag-clean-costs/, [15] http://www.bagmonster.com/2010/04/the-true-cost-of-single-use-bags.html, [16] http://www.cep.unep.org/cep-documents/unep-press-release-on-the-effects-of-plastic-waste-on-marine-ecosystems.pdf, [17] https://greentumble.com/can-plastic-bags-be-recycled/, [18] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bag-clean-costs/, [19] https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-countries-are-in-the-world.html, [20] https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. Es gratis registrarse y presentar tus propuestas laborales. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. What do the bans accomplish? Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. 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. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. Post date: 18 yesterday. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. 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 | | 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. 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. 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. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? 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. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. 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. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). 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]. We should just stick to plastic. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. Will others? Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. 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. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Thanks for signing up. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will.
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