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It has been projected that, if current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. Let us know if you liked this article. Required fields are marked *. Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - maktabyar.org 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. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step, offering a natural place to start with low-hanging fruit so long as its part of a much more fundamental shift away from single-use plastics across the value chains of these companies and our economy. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. Yes, it should. 1. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. Your email address will not be published. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, one of the main sources of food for some species of sea turtles, especially the critically-endangered Leatherback turtles. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. Cause of environmental pollution 2. 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. Participate in beach or river cleanups. . Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. What can I do for you? Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. We are working hard to improve our content. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. 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. Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. Made from fossil fuels 3. 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.). According to a study that was published by Bloomberg News, it is predicted that the percentage of contaminated ocean water that is caused by plastic straws and stirrers is a shockingly modest 0.03 percent. Additionally, someone has to pay the cost of dealing with plastic bags in the waste stream. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. 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. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - tmtnevins.com But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. update email soon. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. New York State and Hawaii just passed theirs, set to go into effect in 2020, and Californias bag ban, which was passed in 2014, has been shown to have reduced plastic bag usage by 85 percent (with some customers opting to pay a 10 cent fee for thicker plastic bags) and has reduced coastal pollution. 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. We can also decrease costs through improved bioprocessing methods, through metabolic engineering and by exploring and harnessing the incredible diversity of bioplastic-making systems that evolution has already created. Better alternatives are available 10. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. You can be sure of one thing, though. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. 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. We should do likewise. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. Learn how your comment data is processed. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? And the recent fracking boom, resulting in a surplus of oil, is fueling a subsequent rise in cracker plants, too. 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? 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. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. 2. and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. Killing wildlife 5. (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. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. 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. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. All Rights Reserved. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). 'Banning plastic straws will not be enough': The fight to clean the oceans Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. by TFK Kid Reporter Maria Suarez, 10 Bellaire, Texas Plastic straws should not be banned until we can find alternatives that are affordable, environmentally friendly, and acceptable for disabled people. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. 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. Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. Plastic items are more sanitary than other alternatives. 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. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. 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. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. TOP 10 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned BEST and NEWEST 15. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. Sugar and oils are too expensive. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. . 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]. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. Why Plastic Straws Are Being Banned - Square Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they. This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives? [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. 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. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. 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. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Plastic bags are everywhere. 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. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. We should just stick to plastic. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. It means that most bags can be recycled. 2. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. Its Plastic Incineration. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. State Disclosures. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | IUCN Water We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. 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. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. 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. 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. 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. 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. Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. 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. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. 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. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink. 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. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. 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. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. If youd like to learn more about how plastic straws negatively impact the environment, you can check out this article I wrote about the environmental impact of plastic straws. Don't Ban Straws - Reason.com Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? | Persuasive Writing | Scholastic Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. 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. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. 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-. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. Will others? They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. Why is plastic bad for the environment? It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? 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. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. Activists Say Straws Should Be Banned Because They Are a 'Gateway Plastic' For those governments that are opposed to full bans on plastic bags, another option is to institute a plastic bag tax, where consumers or retailers would pay a small fee for each plastic bag. 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. 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. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. 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. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Banning Straws and Bags Won't Solve our Plastic Problem Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. This leaves few other alternatives other than 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. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 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. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic 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. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. 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.