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Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. Your email address will not be published. The crisis is so serious that many people are saying that plastic straws should be outlawed. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). Why Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? - Nationwide Plastics For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. As a result, the ban will reduce the number of plastic straws polluting the ocean. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs Nows the Time. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - david-el.co.il 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | IUCN Water This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. 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. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. 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. Sugar and oils are too expensive. Communities and consumers can play vital roles in sparking action. 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. Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - tmtnevins.com Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. Do you wonder why? [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. 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? We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? Arguments Why Plastic Should Be Banned - Green Matters The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. 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. 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. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. What do the bans accomplish? Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. The single biggest reason why people want to ban plastic straws is because of their negative effects on the environment. 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. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. 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-. 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. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. You can be sure of one thing, though. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. (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. 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. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). 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. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. 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. The process of drilling for plastics source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. 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. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. 10 Reasons You Should Give Up Plastic Straws - sustainablemotown Do plastic straws really make a difference? - Stanford Earth That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. . You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and 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. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. 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. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? The very best alternative is a reusable bag. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. The explanation is quite simple. 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. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. Low rated: 2. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . 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. 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. If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. Post date: 18 yesterday. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If For wildlife, microplastics can be particularly dangerous; when eaten they can easily accumulate inside an animals body and cause health issues, like punctured organs or fatal intestinal blockages. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. About; Disability Vote Blog; Organizer's Forum; Issues; News; NDLA Webinars American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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.) Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. 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. Our reliance on these plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. 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. 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. FNB News - Choose the right straw | FNB News And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. 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. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. 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. 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. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. TOP 10 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned BEST and NEWEST Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. What Are Single-use Plastics and Should They Be Banned? On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. Also, giving a speech in . Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Why is plastic bad for the environment? This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. In early January 2020, China joined the growing movement of more than 120 countries pledging to ban single-use plastics.The country of 1.4 billion citizens is the No. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. But should plastic straws really be banned? Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. Tweet, call, or send letters to these companies to ask them to switch to more durable, recyclable, compostable, renewable, and/or recycled-content packaging with less fossil fuelderived plastic. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. Your email address will not be published. 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. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . 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. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. Five Reasons Banning Plastics May Harm the Environment and Consumers Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. 1. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. (Everything You Need To Know). Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. It is predicted that each year 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean, with 1.152.41 tons of that plastic being carried there by major rivers all over the world. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. Read more about us. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. 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. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. What does occur in most instances is that when out in the environment, the plastic breaks up into tiny microscopic pieces that get deposited in soils (where we grow food) or contaminate waterways. 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. Banning straws may confer 'moral license' allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. 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. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. 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. Plastic straws shouldn't be banned - The Rubicon 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. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, We are working hard to improve our content. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. All Rights Reserved. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Plastic bags are everywhere. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. 12 Compelling Reasons For Banning Plastic Bags [2023 Update] - MindsetEco There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. 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. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. 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. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. 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. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws. 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 Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20].