Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Such materials already exist in nature. What can I do for you? This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. 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. 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. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. 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. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. Facebook; Contact Now . Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Author: floridadep.gov. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. 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 . Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. 2023 Get Green Now. If this happens, there are a few scenarios you can follow: The best thing you can do with those old plastic bags that have been stashed in that overflowing drawer in your kitchen is to recycle them. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. 10 Reasons You Should Give Up Plastic Straws - sustainablemotown This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? Because of this, the plants and wildlife in the area have a potential risk of absorbing the microplastics through their diets and drinking water. 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. 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. Let us know if you liked this article. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. 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. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. 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. 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. These examples could go on for a long time. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. 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. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. (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. 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. 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. While these countries and municipalities have been making strides in their part of reducing circulation of plastic bags, in total there are 195 countries in the world [19] and the issue of plastic pollution is still getting out of our hands. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. This NRDC.org story is available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as time and place elements, style, and grammar); you cant resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you cant republish our material wholesale or automaticallyyou need to select stories individually; you can't republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should drop us a note to let us know when youve used one of our stories. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. Killing wildlife 5. Why Plastic Bags And Straws Should Not Be Banned 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. 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. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? Thanks for signing up. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. The single biggest reason why people want to ban plastic straws is because of their negative effects on the environment. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . 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. 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. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. 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. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. 1. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. Don't Ban Straws - Reason.com But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. Plastic waste that clogs water drainage channels and river tributaries of many Asian cities increases exposure of residents to water-borne diseases, as it creates a toxic soup that remains stranded in one place for prolonged periods of time. A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world - Environment Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned REASONS 1. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. 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. Arguments Why Plastic Should Be Banned - Green Matters that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. 2015-2023 Greentumble. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. 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. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! ), then its clean! Will others? What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs 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. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. Better alternatives are available 10. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned - manufacturer, factory 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. What about you? Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. 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. 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. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. Ill talk about this more in the next section: By itself, a plastic straw ban is unlikely to have a large impact on the environment. 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. 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? State Disclosures. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. Plastic bags are everywhere. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution, Impact of Plastic Bags on the Environment, non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources, Plastic Bag Degradation: What You Should Know, Serious Effects of Plastic Pollution on Human Health. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. 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. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. Overall, the goal of a plastic straw ban should be to increase public awareness for single-use plastics and their nasty effects on the environment. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. 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 fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. All Rights Reserved. . 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.) JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Even human footprints left in the sand represent mountain-like obstacles in their path and waves washing up on the beach are another challenge, as they thrust them back on the dry land to try once again before finally being picked up by a return current and start swimming for their life. 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. Plastic straws shouldn't be banned - The Rubicon Plastic bags. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - maktabyar.org