The explanation is quite simple. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. 1. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. Come with external costs 9. A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean. 1. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtles nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out. 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. Without proper education, few people would know the purpose of the ban, and they would continue using other single-use plastics which could be even worse for the environment. 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]. They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. 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. 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. Similar fate has met dolphins, seals, cats, dogs, deer and many other animals which got severely cut on their bodies due to plastic bag entanglement. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. An additional problem with plastic grocery bags recycling is their cleanliness. (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 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. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles. You can be sure of one thing, though. 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. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. 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. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? By being aware about these issues, you will be ready to present some strong arguments why plastic bags should be banned in your area and answer questions of people who will become your ally if you will persuade them about your good intentions. On average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste [15]. (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. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned REASONS 1. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. Each day, the United States of America uses 500 million drinking straws. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. Other country that has decided to enforce the country-wide plastic bag ban after suffering of negative consequences was Mauritania. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. She can remember all of her vehicles the Pontiac 6000, her familys car that was passed on to her when she went to college; the Volkswagen Rabbit, and later Fox, that took her through young adulthood; the Honda Civics,, Read More Car Recycling: Everything You Need to Know (With Statistics)Continue, Whether youre a scuba diver, snorkeler, or amateur swimmer, the ocean is a playground where you come to explore the beauty of nature and the difference from your regular lifes environment. 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. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. Yes, it should. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. 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. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. 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. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. 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. While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. 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. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, Scientists have recorded some species of zooplankton eating tiny plastic particles. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. They're not alone. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. The Pasig River in the Philippines is another scary example of the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment. Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect absorption of some important trace elements (like iron) which we need for maintaining proper health [13]. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. (Everything You Need To Know). Car Recycling: Everything You Need to Know (With Statistics), Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine Ecosystems, What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern? 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. However, in 2014, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) supported the first project to calculate the real cost of plastic, including adverse environmental impacts of its production, use and disposal. 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. 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 . Scientists are showing that we are sending tons of tiny plastic particles into our soils each year, potentially affecting crops and our health. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban. 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. What can I do for you? 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. Post date: 18 yesterday. 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 Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. By 2030, CEO James Quincey has pledged to use 50 percent recycled material in its bottles and cans and recycle one bottle or can. There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. And Starbucks, which uses an estimated one billion plastic straws per year, is phasing them out in favor of paper ones. 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. 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. 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. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. 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. 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. It means that most bags can be recycled. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. 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. 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. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. 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. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? 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). Communities and consumers can play vital roles in sparking action. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. This could negatively reflect on their income. Overall, the goal of a plastic straw ban should be to increase public awareness for single-use plastics and their nasty effects on the environment. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. Plastic pollutionwhether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisisimpacts vulnerable communities first. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? Better alternatives are available 10. As for reusable straws, they arent flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? 2023 Get Green Now. 2. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. 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. 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. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". 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. Plastic bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. This means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. 2015-2023 Greentumble. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. Such changes could have outsized benefits for vulnerable populations that rely on rivers for their water supply. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. 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. Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. But should plastic straws really be banned? Simply, refuse them when offered and bring your own reusable bag when shopping. These costs include the true environmental costs of resource extraction and depletion, the loss of quality of life, economic loss from littering, and wildlife loss. We are working hard to improve our content. 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. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. 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]. 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. Facebook; Contact Now . A laboratory photograph of microplastics found in the Corsica River in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Maryland, An albatross found dead with a belly full of plastic on Midway Atoll. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. 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. What about you? Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution found on beaches and in oceans all over the world. 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). 1. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. How? Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. Starbucks recently announced that it would phase out use of plastic straws by the year 2020. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. 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. 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. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by animals, birds, and marine life. 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. 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. Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. 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. When you sip beverages through a straw you end up inhaling more air into your belly than you would otherwise. They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses. Required fields are marked *. 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. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. Plastic is more sanitary and safer to use than other alternatives. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Well, before putting it into the laundry basket, take a look at it closely. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. Instead, you are actually reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources smartly, while at the same time reducing waste. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. It also took 100% of those plastic grocery bags out of the recycling system, where they bound up machinery and increased costs. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. Plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, one of the main sources of food for some species of sea turtles, especially the critically-endangered Leatherback turtles. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. 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. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? In Taiwan, which was once overflowing with so much trash that it spurred public protest and the nickname Garbage Island, companies now either manage their own waste or subsidize government-run infrastructure. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts.