Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. 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. 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 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. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 2015-2023 Greentumble. Buy in bulk. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! 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. 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. 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. 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. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. 2. Which brings us to the second part. Do you wonder why? Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. (Its also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection What about you? Es gratis registrarse y presentar tus propuestas laborales. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. 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. 2. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Heres everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1. 1. plastic straws litter our environment Every day, about 3-6 billion plastic straws are produced. American beaver populations are booming in the western United States as conditions grow hotter and drier. If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. Nearly 20 years ago, a dead pelican was found with its stomach filled with 17 plastic bags [10]. In Germany alone, we use 40 billion plastic straws every year. Plastic bags. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. 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. The resulting number is staggering. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. High costs for cleanup 8. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. You can use some easy online locators to see the closest plastic bag drop-off. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. The crisis is so serious that many people are saying that plastic straws should be outlawed. We will Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution found on beaches and in oceans all over the world. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Many people with disabilities rely on flexible straws to drink safely and independently. There are numerous reasons why PLA straws are not the right substitute for plastic straws . The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment?Continue. Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back. O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. 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. Additionally, a plastic straw ban could also act as a gateway into other single-use plastic bans for items like plastic bottles and plastic bags, which are worse for the environment than plastic straws. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. This includes waste collection, regular cleanups to remove plastic bag litter along the roads or blown away from landfills and then even processing at landfill sites. The most common are inorganic dyes that are added to change the color of plastic bags. We all are just trying to do our job well. Let us know if you liked this article. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. 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]. 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. 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. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. 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. 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. This blog covers a variety of topics including plastic pollution, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and much more. Participate in beach or river cleanups. 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. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. They're not alone. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. Better alternatives are available 10. Actress Nina Nelson and other celebrities made a video claiming that plastic. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. 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 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. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. However, we are all too familiar with situations when a cashier automatically puts your items in a plastic bag before you can oppose it. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? 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 are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. But these cases make up a small fraction of single-use plastic. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. Its also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. LEAPE:Plastic straws are only a tiny fraction of the problem less than 1 percent. Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. Plastic is not the largest contributor of pollution and the . They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. Greenwashing Alert: Chemical Recycling Isnt Actually Recycling. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globemost often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. Thanks for signing up. 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. The phthalate DEHP, as just one example from dozens, is often added to plastic goods like shower curtains and garden hoses to make them more flexiblebut was also found to be a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Globally, 8 to 10 percent of our current oil supply goes to a plastic bag manufacture [4]. 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. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. 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. 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. 10 Reasons Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned? Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses. 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? keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. update email soon. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. Reduce Aesthetic value of your neighborhood. 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. Tushy Ace Review (After 3 Months): Is this Luxury Bidet Worth it? While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. 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]. (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. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, 2023 Get Green Now. Most plastic straws are made from harsh chemicals making them impossible to reuse or recycle. Its Plastic Incineration. 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. Plastic straws are everywhere we look. Additionally, someone has to pay the cost of dealing with plastic bags in the waste stream. Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. 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. To date, around 60 countries and municipalities around the world have instituted plastic bag bans, and additional seven countries are planning to enforce the law in the closest future. 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 the answer is yes, you should know that this inadvertent overconsumption of single-use plastic carries with it a very high cost to the environment, which in turn also negatively affects our health. How can you help to ban plastic bags in your area? Without further due, here are the top 3 ways kids can help, Read More 3 Ways Kids can Help the EarthContinue, What Are Microplastics? Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. The explanation is quite simple. 1. It means that most bags can be recycled. 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. What can I do for you? Single use plastics wreak havoc on wildlife and the earth. Its because Asian and US coastlines release large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean [7]. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? 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. 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. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. 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. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. 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. Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. Sugar and oils are too expensive. Killing wildlife 5. 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. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. 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. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. (Source: Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment), Stanford scientists are among a growing number of researchers harnessing artificial intelligence techniques to bring more realistic representations of ubiquitous atmospheric ripples into global climate models. 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]. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. 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. A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean. Why is plastic bad for the environment? 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. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. 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 Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. 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. But this comes along with many unanswered questions. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". Learn how your comment data is processed. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. Many of the chemicals in plastics are known endocrine disruptors,and research has suggested that human exposure could cause health impacts including hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems like infertility, and even cancer. About half the cost of making biodegradable polymers is the cost of feedstock. Come with external costs 9. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use. Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. State Disclosures. 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. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. 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. These examples could go on for a long time. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. 4. However, as an environmental enthusiast, heres what I think about this ban. 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]. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . Plastic bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. 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. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable. Natural Resources Defense Council 2023 Privacy Policy 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. The second, more fundamental imperative is to get plastics out of our waste stream. Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner: 1. In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. Plastic fragments in the ocean such as those from plastic bags can absorb pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) easily. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. We all know what the debate is between plastic and paper straws but paper straws are horrible they will immediately break apart in your mouth and feel horrible. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. All rights reserved. Leape has long been a leader in ocean conservation efforts. 2. Then, they have a propensity to break down into microplastics, which then clutter the ecosystems in question. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. 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. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. 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.
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