PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. 2023 Get Green Now. She can remember all of her vehicles the Pontiac 6000, her familys car that was passed on to her when she went to college; the Volkswagen Rabbit, and later Fox, that took her through young adulthood; the Honda Civics,, Read More Car Recycling: Everything You Need to Know (With Statistics)Continue, Whether youre a scuba diver, snorkeler, or amateur swimmer, the ocean is a playground where you come to explore the beauty of nature and the difference from your regular lifes environment. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. Learn how your comment data is processed. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. Read more about us. 2015-2023 Greentumble. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. Which brings us to the second part. 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. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. 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. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. This could negatively reflect on their income. 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. Better alternatives are available 10. 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. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. 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. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. 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. 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. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. Harmful to human health 6. 12 Reasons for Banning Plastic Bags: Plastic Bags Are Made With Non-Renewable Energy Plastic Bags Use Up Lots Of Energy Plastic Bags End Up In The Ocean Beach Plastic Litter Is On The Rise Plastic Bags Kill Millions Of Animals Every Year Plastic Takes A Long Time To Disintegrate Plastic Is Harming The Ocean's Coral Plastic Bags Contain Toxins The truth is that we do not know yet the full scale of negative impacts plastic waste can have on marine and terrestrial environments because it hasnt been around long enough to allow us to assess possible scenarios of its influence on natural cycles. They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. Now, lets get into the negatives of a plastic straw ban: While banning plastic straws might help the environment in some aspects (well talk about this later), there are also many reasons against (or cons) of a plastic straw ban. 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 market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. 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. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. For many of us it is hard to imagine that something as small as a plastic bag can actually cause flooding, but residents of some cities in Bangladesh have been struggling with this problem every monsoon season for the past two decades [3]. They're not alone. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. Even if you can't go zero waste entirely, it's high time we all ended our reliance on single use plastics. 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. 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. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Scientists have recorded some species of zooplankton eating tiny plastic particles. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. 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. 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. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. 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. 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. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. 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. These examples could go on for a long time. Do you wonder why? However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. 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. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. 2. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. How exactly does the use of plastic do harm to the environment?Plastic has a very long half-life in the environment, during which it poses a danger to animals and spreads toxic chemicals.Additionally, plastic is a contributor to the warming of the planet.Nearly every type of plastic is manufactured using chemicals that are leftover from the manufacturing of fossil fuels, which contribute to global warming (gas, oil and even coal). Cause of environmental pollution 2. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. 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.) For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. We will 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 part of the Break Free From Plastic movement, Greenpeace volunteers conducted an audit of plastic pollution along coastlines, sifting through tens of thousands of individual pieces across 42 countries to identify the pollutions sources. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . 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. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. BY Rob Jordan, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, As Colorado River wanes, water supplies and ecosystems hang in the balance, Riverfront forest restoration can deliver outsized benefits, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, An AI solution to climate models gravity wave problem, Beavers will become a bigger boon to river water quality as U.S. West warms. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. 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. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Plastic bags are everywhere. All you need to do is paste your ZIP code and then see the list of stores with bag drop-off in your nearest location. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. 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. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. 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. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. 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. Microplastics were found in soft drinks like Coca Cola, in tap water, in seafood It has contaminated our food chain, so it should not surprise us that it can be tracked in our body. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! 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. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. 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. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. 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. 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. The explanation is quite simple. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. 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. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean. The trend has already started. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. 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. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. 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. 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. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. ), then its clean! 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. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources and through their extraction and production, they emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. Carrying reusable bags and bottles is one great way to avoid single-use plastics in our day-to-day lives; more on preventing plastic waste can be found below. An additional problem with plastic grocery bags recycling is their cleanliness. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Your email address will not be published. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. A 2018 study of coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific has confirmed that plastic waste deposited on coral reefs promotes outbreaks of diseases that gradually destroy whole reef colonies [12]. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. 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. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. 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. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Your email address will not be published. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. According to a study carried out in 2013, up to 35 percent of turtle deaths were caused by plastic ingestion and the probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year [9]. Such materials already exist in nature. The resulting number is staggering. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. 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. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. 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. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. 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. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . 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. In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. Speak out in support of local plastic bans, whether by calling your local government representative, submitting an op-ed to your citys newspaper, or simply starting conversations with neighbors. Thanks for signing up. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? 1. (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. Communities and consumers can play vital roles in sparking action. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. We are working hard to improve our content. 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.
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