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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. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. 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. Because of this, the plants and wildlife in the area have a potential risk of absorbing the microplastics through their diets and drinking water. Heres everything you need to know about the most ubiquitous (and avoidable) kind of plastic waste: the kind made to be tossed in mere minutes. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Let us know if you liked this article. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. Not easy to recycle 7. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. 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. Plastic bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. 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.) 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. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment? This could negatively reflect on their income. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. 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. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. 1. Your email address will not be published. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. 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 Problematic degradation 4. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. 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. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. 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]. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. Killing wildlife 5. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. 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. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. edinburgh airport address. 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. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. 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. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. 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. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. Yes, it should. These are known to be hormone-disrupting chemicals. 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned. However, one thing we know, is that by introducing a pollutant that may never break down in the environment can have implications that will far exceed any of our predictions. If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. New York State and Hawaii just passed theirs, set to go into effect in 2020, and Californias bag ban, which was passed in 2014, has been shown to have reduced plastic bag usage by 85 percent (with some customers opting to pay a 10 cent fee for thicker plastic bags) and has reduced coastal pollution. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. that do collect plastic bags and other plastic films and send them for proper recycling. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. 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. Required fields are marked *. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. 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. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. McDonald's recently announced . However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. A recent report showed that plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Theyre in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salt. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. 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. 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. 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. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. 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. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. 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. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? . Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. 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. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis.