Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. There is only one requirement these plastic bags need to be dry and clean, otherwise they contaminate the entire batch and your effort will do more harm than good. Many of you may have heard it already. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. 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. 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. State Disclosures. 15. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. 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. The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. 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. 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. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. 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. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. It is predicted that each year 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean, with 1.152.41 tons of that plastic being carried there by major rivers all over the world. . Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. 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. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. 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. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. 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. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. 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. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. The explanation is quite simple. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. A calf had to be put down because of indigestion caused by 8 plastic bags in its stomach. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If 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. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. Once a person gets into the habit of bringing reusable bags when shopping, it is not much of an inconvenience at all. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. 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. Made from fossil fuels 3. Globally, 8 to 10 percent of our current oil supply goes to a plastic bag manufacture [4]. 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. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. 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. 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. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. 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.). It has been projected that, if current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. 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. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. 300 to 700 plastic bags pass through the hands of an average American in just one year [8] and a survey of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concluded that the average household in the United Kingdom stores around 40 plastic shopping bags at home [2]. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. The crisis is so serious that many people are saying that plastic straws should be outlawed. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. edinburgh airport address. Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. Paper vs. Read more about us. 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. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. Fortunately, microorganisms can also use cheap, renewable substrates, such as food wastes, biogas methane, carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. Better alternatives are available 10. 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. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. 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. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. Straws made of paper are neither recyclable nor capable of decomposition. 2. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. 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. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. 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. Also, giving a speech in . The following are ten lines on why plastic bags need to be prohibited: 1) The careless disposal of trash in plastic bags leads to an increase in litter.2) The use of plastic bags contributes to the depletion of our natural resources, including water, trees, and agricultural products.3) Because of the danger it causes to marine life, the total 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. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. 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. 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. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. No! New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. 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. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. The resulting number is staggering. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. 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. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. 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. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. 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? On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. What do the bans accomplish? Come with external costs 9. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy It means that most bags can be recycled. 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. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . 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. Cause of environmental pollution 2. Some companies are taking initiative on their own. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. Help raise awareness of fellow consumers that means everyone when you think about it (unless they dont shopever). Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. 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). 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. In 2008, a crocodile in Australia died because of 25 plastic bags filling its stomach [11]. 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-. Plastic straws have an especially high propensity to end up in our rivers after being thrown away. 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. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. 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. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. McDonald's recently announced . Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. Plastic bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. 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. All Rights Reserved. This could negatively reflect on their income. 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. How? Its Plastic Incineration. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. 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]. Let us know if you liked this article. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. 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]. 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. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? 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. 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]. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. 2. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. Do you wonder why? Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. 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. 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. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. This is because the customers voluntarily reduce their consumption of plastic bags, which in turn provides enough time for retailers to find suitable alternatives and switch to them. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. 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. Banning straws may confer 'moral license' allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 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. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. 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. 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. 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. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. 2015-2023 Greentumble. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? Individual choicesand the collective shifts they bring aboutadd up quickly. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . Nows the Time. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. 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. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. 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.
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