Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. 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. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. 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. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . FNB News - Choose the right straw | FNB News Because they are so lightweight, plastic bags get easily picked up by wind and travel long distances by wind and water to pollute the nature. 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. 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. 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. China 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned Manufacturers, Supply 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with High Quality, Wholesale 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned with Low Price, High Quality. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. 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 On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. 2. Why Plastic Straws Are Being Banned - Square Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? 2. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. The first is to invest in better waste collection in the handful of countries that account for most of the plastic flowing into the ocean. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. 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. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. 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. 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. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. 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.) And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? If we ban single-use plastic straws we will have to turn to the dangerous alternatives.In source NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Killing wildlife 5. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? 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. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. 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. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. 1. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. (Everything You Need To Know). In Taiwan, which was once overflowing with so much trash that it spurred public protest and the nickname Garbage Island, companies now either manage their own waste or subsidize government-run infrastructure. 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. 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. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. 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.). There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 1. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. 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. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. Which brings us to the second part. A recent report showed that plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. The resulting number is staggering. 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. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. Straws, Ives says, made the perfect target: too inconsequential to really be missed but so ubiquitous that their absence would be noticed. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. Thanks for signing up. This could negatively reflect on their income. You can be sure of one thing, though. 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. Similar fate has met dolphins, seals, cats, dogs, deer and many other animals which got severely cut on their bodies due to plastic bag entanglement. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and 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. 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. They're not alone. Because of this, the plants and wildlife in the area have a potential risk of absorbing the microplastics through their diets and drinking water. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. 10 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. 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. 1. 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. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. In fact, the global backlash against plastic straws likely started after researchers off the coast of Costa Rica shared a viral video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. It is good for our environment, health and global climate. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land 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. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned 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. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. As a result, the ban will reduce the number of plastic straws polluting the ocean. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? 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. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. 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 . Thats a promising start. A complete ban on plastic straws would harm disabled people, which definitely isnt the goal of such a ban. Some tributaries of the river have been filled with plastic waste to the level that you could almost walk across them without getting your feet wet. 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. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. 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. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . Why Plastic Bags And Straws Should Not Be Banned About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. The crisis is so serious that many people are saying that plastic straws should be outlawed. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. We should just stick to plastic. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. Paper vs. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. Let us know if you liked this article. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. 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. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? We all are just trying to do our job well. 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. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. In 2015 researchers from the University of Georgia estimated that between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic per year make their way into the oceans via people living within 30 miles of a coast. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) 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. 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. NRDC scientist Jennifer Sass says yes and debunks the skeptics claim that in trying to wean ourselves off plastic bags, were only creating more troubles. Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. 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. Scientists have recorded some species of zooplankton eating tiny plastic particles. 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. A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes are far too lightweight to be recycled in an efficient manner. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. 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. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. 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]. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned - manufacturer, factory Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, 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. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. Ill talk about this more in the next section: By itself, a plastic straw ban is unlikely to have a large impact on the environment. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. 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. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. All rights reserved. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - maktabyar.org O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. 2023 Get Green Now. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. Plastic waste, mostly broken down into tiny particles, floats in huge blobs amid ocean current patterns called gyres that together cover as much as 40 percent of Earth's ocean surface. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. Es gratis registrarse y presentar tus propuestas laborales. How? Plastic straws have an especially high propensity to end up in our rivers after being thrown away. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. 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. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. This includes waste collection, regular cleanups to remove plastic bag litter along the roads or blown away from landfills and then even processing at landfill sites. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 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. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! Yes, it should. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. Arguments Why Plastic Should Be Banned - Green Matters Problematic degradation 4. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. Plastic utensils are convenient and straws are fun for kids, but much of that plastic eventually winds up in a landfill or as litter. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. 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. Do you wonder why? As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. 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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. McDonald's recently announced . 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. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. 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. 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. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. (Everything You Need To Know)Continue, Many restaurants have banned plastic straws due to their harmful effects on the environment, and have switched to paper alternatives instead.
