1. 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. Harmful to human health 6. 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. Sugar and oils are too expensive. 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.) Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. 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. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. | | Nows the Time. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. Reasons why smoking should be banned articlestrabajos Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. 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. Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Do you wonder why? Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. Five Reasons Banning Plastics May Harm the Environment and Consumers Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! Why Plastic Straws Are Being Banned - Square Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. 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? And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. Thats a promising start. 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. It topped 60 million tons (54.4 million metric tons) in 2010 based on a September 2018 report titled "Plastic Pollution."But China announced it plans to outlaw the production and sale of . 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. Buy in bulk. What about you? Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. 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. But should plastic straws really be banned? 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. TIME for Kids | Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? 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. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. McDonald's recently announced . Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | Greentumble Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation Since their birth, baby turtles have only one goal to get to the sea and swim into deep waters where they will feed and if successful grow into adult turtles. Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. 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. Why? Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. And cracker plantswhich break, or crack, ethane molecules, a component of natural gas, into the chemical building blocks of plastic productsare energy intensive and highly polluting. 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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. 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]. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources and through their extraction and production, they emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. Polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most commonly recycled plastics and the material that makes up most water and soda bottles, can be turned into everything from polyester fabric to automotive parts. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. 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]. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. 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. 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. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. 10 Reasons You Should Give Up Plastic Straws - sustainablemotown Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. These examples could go on for a long time. Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. 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. Spare Yourself the Guilt Trip This Earth DayIts Companies That Need to Clean Up Their Acts, These Fanciful Sea Creatures Were Carried in on the Tide. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - tmtnevins.com Better alternatives are available 10. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. But these cases make up a small fraction of single-use plastic. 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. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives? Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. Not easy to recycle 7. We should just stick to plastic. Ms. LISA PAI . No! According to estimates made by scientists, there are 7.5 million polluting straws around the shores of the United States, and anywhere from 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws throughout the coastlines of the rest of the globe. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. The answer isnt as simple as you may think: While its true that paper straws arent as harmful as plastic straws, this doesnt mean that, Read More Paper vs. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. In the United States alone, statistics reach up to 12 million barrels of oil that are used each year to produce even more plastic bags 100 billion more, to give you the precise number [5]. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? Banning straws may confer 'moral license' allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Heres everything you need to know about the most ubiquitous (and avoidable) kind of plastic waste: the kind made to be tossed in mere minutes. 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. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. Let us know if you liked this article. . Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. A complete ban on plastic straws would harm disabled people, which definitely isnt the goal of such a ban. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. 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. Will others? Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. 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. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . 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. CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned 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. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. 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. 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]. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. Why we shouldn't ban plastic straws Antithesis Journal Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 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. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. We should do likewise. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. Facebook; Contact Now . Once a paper product has been contaminated with food or drink, it must be disposed of in a landfill. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Banning Straws and Bags Won't Solve our Plastic Problem Yes, it should. What can I do for you? As plastic bags tend to get caught in recycling machinery, most recycling facilities do not have the capacity to recycle plastic bags and therefore do not accept them. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. 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. Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. 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. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. 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. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. 2. 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. By being aware about these issues, you will be ready to present some strong arguments why plastic bags should be banned in your area and answer questions of people who will become your ally if you will persuade them about your good intentions. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. China 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned Manufacturers, Supply 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with High Quality, Wholesale 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with Low Price, High Quality. There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. 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. 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. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. (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. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. 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. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. PDF Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention.
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