As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. Made from fossil fuels 3. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. They are also capable of being ingested by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, which in turn causes the animals injury and, in the case of fish, allows them to enter the human food chain. 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. 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. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. 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. The phthalate DEHP, as just one example from dozens, is often added to plastic goods like shower curtains and garden hoses to make them more flexiblebut was also found to be a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. 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. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. 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. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. 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. 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. Fortunately, microorganisms can also use cheap, renewable substrates, such as food wastes, biogas methane, carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . 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. You can be sure of one thing, though. 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. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If In this essay on should plastic be banned, it is very important to put forth the fact that there are many bodies of health and environmental governance around the world who argue that plastic ban can be problematic stating the following reasons-. The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. 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. 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. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? 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.) You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. The explanation is quite simple. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. 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. (Source: Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment), Stanford scientists are among a growing number of researchers harnessing artificial intelligence techniques to bring more realistic representations of ubiquitous atmospheric ripples into global climate models. All Rights Reserved. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. 2. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy High costs for cleanup 8. 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. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Such materials already exist in nature. The reason to worry is that scientists do not know how our metabolism and immunity will react to the increased concentration of plastic particles in our system. Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. Author: floridadep.gov. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. 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. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. 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. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. Read more about us. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. Ideally, to be suitable for recycling, bags need to be clean to be accepted, which is often a problem, considering that we use them to carry groceries and potentially leaky goods. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. Cause of environmental pollution 2. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. 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.). Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. Buy in bulk. They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. 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 items are more sanitary than other alternatives. Come with external costs 9. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. For example, some disabled people may not be able to properly hold or pick up a cup, so they need to use straws to drink properly. 2. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. 2023 Get Green Now. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. As a result, the ban will reduce the number of plastic straws polluting the ocean. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 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. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Each day, the United States of America uses 500 million drinking straws. Problematic degradation 4. Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. 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. Why? The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. 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. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. 2. (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. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. 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. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. This includes grocery plastic bags, Ziplock-type bags, dry cleaning bags and bread bags. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? The production of these bags is very energy intensive. 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? Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. The first country to ban single-use plastic bags was Bangladesh in 2002 when plastic bag litter clogged drainage channels and contributed to destructive floods. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. 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. 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 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. 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. We are working hard to improve our content. Better alternatives are available 10. They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Your email address will not be published. In fact, the global backlash against plastic straws likely started after researchers off the coast of Costa Rica shared a viral video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. No! 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. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. 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. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. Your email address will not be published. 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. Its Plastic Incineration. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. 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. 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. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. 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. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. 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. Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. 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]. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. 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. 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. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. Also, giving a speech in . So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. What about you? | | 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.

Ascension Parish Police Reports, Lewis Feild Obituary, Matt Schuler Insane Pools Fired, Burton Players Wages, Articles OTHER