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Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. Five Reasons Banning Plastics May Harm the Environment and Consumers Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. . 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. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. 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. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for 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. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. Do plastic straws really make a difference? - Stanford Earth What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. Thats a promising start. Coca-Cola has said that it alone produces three million tons of plastic packaging each year, equivalent to a terrifying 200,000 plastic bottles per minute. The resulting number is staggering. 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. Plastic bags are everywhere. Will others? This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. Starting in the 1960s, plastic straw manufacturing took off. Plastic bags and plastic products overall contain substances that are harmful to our health. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. Due to its chemistry, nothing in nature can make plastic biodegrade. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument. But should plastic straws really be banned? 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. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. 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. LEAPE:There are two clear imperatives. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. This means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. 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 (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. | | 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. 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. 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. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. 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. Additionally, someone has to pay the cost of dealing with plastic bags in the waste stream. 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. 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. 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. and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Es gratis registrarse y presentar tus propuestas laborales. Why Are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment & Should Be Banned You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. On average, plastic bags cost retailers about 3-5 cents each. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. 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. We are working hard to improve our content. 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. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. 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]. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. Such materials already exist in nature. 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. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. No! 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. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. High costs for cleanup 8. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. 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. They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. We should just stick to plastic. 8 good reasons to give up plastic straws - CareElite 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]. 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]. You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and 1. 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. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. All Rights Reserved. 2. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. Most retailers will get your point, but it can also happen that they will not be willing to sell you some products without placing it in their plastic bags because of having to oblige with some hygiene and sanitary standards (for example when selling meat products). The Pasig River is the eight worst source of ocean plastic pollution in the world. 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. 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. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. All rights reserved. Reasons why smoking should be banned articles jobs The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. 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. 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. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. 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 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. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. Litter can be the first stage in a waste stream that enters waterways as plastics tossed on the street are washed away by rain or travel via storm drains into rivers and streams. Do you wonder why? At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. 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. 1. TOP 10 10 reasons why plastic straws should be banned BEST and NEWEST You need to know what effects plastic bags have on the environment and health. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. 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. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they. 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. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. NRDCs Eric Goldstein gives the scoop on the latest environmental villain and explains why plastic straws really are a big menace to our oceans. Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? [Pros & Cons of a Straw Ban] 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.) 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. NDLA National Disability Leadership Alliance: Nothing About Us Without Us. 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. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. Should Plastic be Banned Essay for Students in English - VEDANTU They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. 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. Even when you dont see it, these indestructible particles are everywhere around us, including in the food chain. Buy in bulk. InCalifornia, a bill to ban straws unless requested at dine-in restaurants is awaiting a signature from the governor. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? | Persuasive Writing | Scholastic Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Why Plastic Bags And Straws Should Not Be Banned (Photo credit: Shutterstock). Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Bags Should Be Banned | Greentumble Come with external costs 9. About; Disability Vote Blog; Organizer's Forum; Issues; News; NDLA Webinars Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. If you are a kid reading this, and you want to get green and help the Earth, you are at the right place. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. 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. While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. 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. 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. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. . 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. Better alternatives are available 10. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. 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. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Let us know if you liked this article. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. 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. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. 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 .
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