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. You probably already saw the video, but if you didnt, you can watch it below (WARNING: Graphic Content): Supporters of plastic straw bans claim that the ban will help reduce our use of single-use plastics. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. 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. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. Five Reasons Banning Plastics May Harm the Environment and Consumers However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. (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. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. A 2017 Environmental Sciences and Technology study reported that up to 95 percent of plastic waste enters oceans from one of 10 riverseight in Asia and two in Africa. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. 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]. It has been projected that, if current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic in the ocean will outweigh the fish. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Already in 2001, researchers found that the mass of microscopic plastic fragments in the North Pacific Central Gyre was 6 times higher than of plankton. 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. Also, giving a speech in . We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. We should just stick to plastic. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. Plastic bags are everywhere. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. This means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. Killing wildlife 5. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. State Disclosures. Polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most commonly recycled plastics and the material that makes up most water and soda bottles, can be turned into everything from polyester fabric to automotive parts. The 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. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | Greentumble They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. 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. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. 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. 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]. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. The explanation is quite simple. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. 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. 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. And the recent fracking boom, resulting in a surplus of oil, is fueling a subsequent rise in cracker plants, too. We should do likewise. A straw with our iced coffee, a plastic bag to carry our takeout, a wrapper on a candy bar: taken individually, each seems harmless. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. This is the case particularly in Southeast Asia, which has begun to import much of the plastic that used to go to China for recycling. 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. However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. Facebook; Contact Now . We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Plastic straws shouldn't be banned - The Rubicon 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | IUCN Water These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Gas, bloating, and intestinal discomfort. Thanks for signing up. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. 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. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. And cracker plantswhich break, or crack, ethane molecules, a component of natural gas, into the chemical building blocks of plastic productsare energy intensive and highly polluting. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? 2023 Get Green Now. 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. 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. 8 good reasons to give up plastic straws - CareElite 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 tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. This could negatively reflect on their income. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes are far too lightweight to be recycled in an efficient manner. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. 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. Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. In fact, plastic bags are considered by many recycling facilities the number one contaminant and their removal from the recycling stream costs municipalities close to $1 million a year [18]. 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. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. The answer isnt as simple as you may think: While its true that paper straws arent as harmful as plastic straws, this doesnt mean that, Read More Paper vs. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Reasons why smoking should be banned articlestrabajos Banning straws may confer 'moral license' allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. 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. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? | Persuasive Writing | Scholastic Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Your email address will not be published. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). The majority of plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. | | Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. 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. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. 12 Compelling Reasons For Banning Plastic Bags [2023 Update] - MindsetEco Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 2. Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned 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. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. One of the most significant negative effects that plastic bags have on the natural world is that it takes a very long time for them to degrade.In addition, the breakdown of plastic bags in the sun results in the release of hazardous compounds into the surrounding soil, and the combustion of plastic bags results in the release of a poisonous material into the surrounding air, contributing to the problem of ambient air pollution. 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. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. These dyes on their own can leach toxins, but they can also be contaminated with traces of heavy metals such as lead or cadmium, both of which affect kidney health and proper functioning of other organs. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. 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. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. In the spirit of eliminating waste, plastic straws appeared to be a way to further the cause: straws aren't essential to the dining experience, and by banning them, oceans, streets, and general society would theoretically benefit. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. 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. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. 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. No! 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. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Will Shifting to Reusable Straws Really Make a Difference? Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic 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. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. (Source: Water in the West), Analysis reveals how restoring relatively narrow forest buffers could substantially improve regional water quality and carbon storage in Costa Rica and elsewhere. The trend has already started. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Why Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? - Nationwide Plastics Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Which brings us to the second part. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Busca trabajos relacionados con Reasons why smoking should be banned articles o contrata en el mercado de freelancing ms grande del mundo con ms de 22m de trabajos. 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. To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned - david-el.co.il 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. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? [Pros & Cons of a Straw Ban] 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. 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. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). Once a person gets into the habit of bringing reusable bags when shopping, it is not much of an inconvenience at all. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. If we ban single-use plastic straws we will have to turn to the dangerous alternatives.In source Additionally, awareness raising campaigns create a social pressure that should inspire local government and institutions to help in making changes at a bigger scale, like a regional ban or levy. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world - Environment Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. Many of you may have heard it already. Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. Sugar and oils are too expensive. Paper straws are horrible and should be taken out of circulation