Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. 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. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. For example, a reusable jute bag should last at least 4 years, during which it can prevent the use of 600 single-use plastic bags. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. 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. 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. Plastic items are more sanitary than other alternatives. 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.). 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. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? | Persuasive Writing | Scholastic Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. 1. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. This includes grocery plastic bags, Ziplock-type bags, dry cleaning bags and bread bags. Stanford Reportspoke withJim Leape, co-director of theStanford Center for Ocean Solutions, andCraig Criddle, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, about the path to reducing ocean plastic pollution. The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes are far too lightweight to be recycled in an efficient manner. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. 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. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. But should plastic straws really be banned? 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. Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives? 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]. 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. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution found on beaches and in oceans all over the world. 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. Don't Ban Straws - Reason.com This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. 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. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. 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. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. 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. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned Better alternatives are available 10. 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]. 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. These examples could go on for a long time. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. All Rights Reserved. (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. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. 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? Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. Policies like bottle bill lawswhich generally require retailers to add a fee on individual bottles, which can then be partially redeemed by customers when they recycleare a way to increase corporate responsibility for waste while providing a monetary incentive to recycle. Paper vs. 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. Most retailers will get your point, but it can also happen that they will not be willing to sell you some products without placing it in their plastic bags because of having to oblige with some hygiene and sanitary standards (for example when selling meat products). Nows the Time. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Come with external costs 9. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. 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. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs 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. Some countries have decided to do so after directly experiencing negative impacts of plastic bags, other countries have implemented the ban to reach their sustainability goals. 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. 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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. A recent report showed that plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. 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. Made from fossil fuels 3. Low rated: 2. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. Unfortunately, such costs are typically not included in most economic analyses, as they are not easy to calculate because the equation would have to involve many indirect variables. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. 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. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. 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. 10 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned Single-use plastics in particularespecially small items like straws, bags, and cutleryare traditionally hard to recycle because they fall into the crevices of recycling machinery and therefore are often not accepted by recycling centers.
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