Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. 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. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. 2. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. 82 percent of the responding food service establishments were aware of the prohibition, and 69 percent of those establishments viewed the ban favorably. This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. 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. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. 2023 Get Green Now. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. No! Buy in bulk. How? its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. Nows the Time. 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. Plastic straws, being so lightweight and non-biodegradable, are readily carried into the water, where they eventually break down into smaller and smaller pieces of microplastic. 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. There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. Learn how your comment data is processed. Additionally, someone has to pay the cost of dealing with plastic bags in the waste stream. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses If The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. 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. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. Spare Yourself the Guilt Trip This Earth DayIts Companies That Need to Clean Up Their Acts, These Fanciful Sea Creatures Were Carried in on the Tide. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. 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. 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. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. edinburgh airport address. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. An additional problem with plastic grocery bags recycling is their cleanliness. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. 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. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. 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. 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. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. Driven by public pressure, governments and corporations are considering eliminating or phasing out single-use plastics such as straws. 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 . Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. 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]. The explanation is quite simple. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. All rights reserved. Post date: 18 yesterday. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. Microplastics are plastic debris that measures less than five millimetres, or 0.2 inches, in diameter. 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. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution, Impact of Plastic Bags on the Environment, non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources, Plastic Bag Degradation: What You Should Know, Serious Effects of Plastic Pollution on Human Health. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. 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. How Plastic Bottles Become Death Traps for Hermit Crabs. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. 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. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? 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. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. 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. Required fields are marked *. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. To align with global efforts, India banned single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! As plastic bags are not disposed properly . Plastic straws have an especially high propensity to end up in our rivers after being thrown away. 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. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. Rating: 5 (913 reviews) Highest rating: 5. 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. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 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. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. We add another 8 million tons each year thats about five grocery bags full of plastic waste on every foot of shoreline around the world, according to a recent study. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds will no longer be sold in Britain as part of a plan to eradicate "avoidable plastic waste" by 2042, and Prime Minister Theresa May actively called on other leaders in the Commonwealth to implement similar policies. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. 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. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. 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. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Problematic degradation 4. Policies like bottle bill lawswhich generally require retailers to add a fee on individual bottles, which can then be partially redeemed by customers when they recycleare a way to increase corporate responsibility for waste while providing a monetary incentive to recycle. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. Even human footprints left in the sand represent mountain-like obstacles in their path and waves washing up on the beach are another challenge, as they thrust them back on the dry land to try once again before finally being picked up by a return current and start swimming for their life. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. 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. 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. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. Tweet, call, or send letters to these companies to ask them to switch to more durable, recyclable, compostable, renewable, and/or recycled-content packaging with less fossil fuelderived plastic. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. CRAIG CRIDDLE: In addition to recycling more and reusing materials more, we need new materials that can do the same jobs as current plastics, but are biodegradable, nontoxic and do not concentrate in food chains. All you need to do is paste your ZIP code and then see the list of stores with bag drop-off in your nearest location. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. 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. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. 2. 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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. State Disclosures. Do you wonder why? Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. Killing wildlife 5. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. Starbucks plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution found on beaches and in oceans all over the world. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. 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.) Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. . Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. (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. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. All Rights Reserved. According to a study carried out in 2013, up to 35 percent of turtle deaths were caused by plastic ingestion and the probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year [9]. The process of drilling for plastics source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. 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. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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 Tangled in trees and fences along roads, floating in water, lying on the ground in parks and forests, surrounding garbage bins, washed off on beaches. What can I do for you? They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes are far too lightweight to be recycled in an efficient manner. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. 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. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. 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. So, plastic bag recycling facilities are few and far between and transportation to one could be expensive. 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? The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. We should just stick to plastic. 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. 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. If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. 13.07.2022 Harry Brown THE TOP 10 REASONS TO DO NOT USE THE STRAW O This requires the usage of 500 million straws Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful Every day in the United States. This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. 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.