Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. 1. plastic straws litter our environment Every day, about 3-6 billion plastic straws are produced. 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 . You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. 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. Required fields are marked *. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. High costs for cleanup 8. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. A study analyzes water transactions that leave water in the river, and shows how they could be scaled up to avert cuts for major water users while supporting imperiled ecosystems. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. 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. 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. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. 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. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. And Starbucks, which uses an estimated one billion plastic straws per year, is phasing them out in favor of paper ones. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. 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. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. Paper vs. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. Plastic bags are everywhere. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. 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. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. 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. Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. Problematic degradation 4. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. 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]. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. Which brings us to the second part. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. 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.) 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. 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. In 2015 a mere 24 of these ethane cracker facilities in the United States had the combined carbon output of 3.8 million passenger vehicles. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. 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. 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. 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. 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. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. 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. 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. 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. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. 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. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. 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. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. These examples could go on for a long time. Its Plastic Incineration. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . Participate in beach or river cleanups. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. 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. Other states such as Hawaii, cities such as Seattle and New York, and corporations such as Amazon and Starbucks are also considering or have initiated plastic phase-out plans. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. What do the bans accomplish? Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? 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. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. 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. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. 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. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. Come with external costs 9. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. What can I do for you? 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. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. Sugar and oils are too expensive. This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes are far too lightweight to be recycled in an efficient manner. Your email address will not be published. 5 Metals in your Home that can be Recycled for Cash, How exactly bidets offer a healthier, green option for your bathroom, A Closer Look at General Motors (GM) Sustainability Initiatives. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. 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.). For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. In the United States, California has banned single-use plastic bags in 2016, but the city of San Francisco has locally issued this ban already in 2012 and consumers pay a little fee for other alternatives like compostable bags or recycled paper bags. 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. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. 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. They're not alone. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, microplastics are so small that they move straight through water filtration, Read More What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern? Thats a promising start. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. Why? 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. 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]. Plastic items are more sanitary than other alternatives. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . 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. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. Why is plastic bad for the environment? But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. All Rights Reserved. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? A plastic straw ban could be a good step in the right direction, but we must use less single-use products overall to actually help the environment.
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