Your email address will not be published. Facebook; Contact Now . About; Disability Vote Blog; Organizer's Forum; Issues; News; NDLA Webinars For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. They suspect that it may add stress on the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. Paper straws cannot be recycled in any way. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing our world today. 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. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. 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. Once a paper product has been contaminated with food or drink, it must be disposed of in a landfill. 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. 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. 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. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. 2. female pomeranian temperament; splinterlands terms and conditions; carbon emissions data by company; ( ) + . They are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. 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. We hear everywhere around us that we need to save energy. Made from fossil fuels 3. 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. Each day, the United States of America uses 500 million drinking straws. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental priceone that well be paying off for millennia. Our plastic addiction is having a devastating impact on our oceans, our wildlife, and our health. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . Problematic degradation 4. 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. Dont re-wash something if you can wear it again. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. 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. 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. The subtropical gyres of the North Pacific Ocean are also documented to contain the highest concentrations of plastic. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. 2. Coca-Cola makes an estimated 110 billion plastic bottles a year. A recent report showed that plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. 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. 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. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. In this article, Ill go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. This could negatively reflect on their income. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. 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. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. All rights reserved. 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. Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Post date: 18 yesterday. No! You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. 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. Tiny plastic particles have been found in human feces. Beyond the costs associated with the production and purchasing of plastic bags by retailers, there are many external costs that are often not considered. Plastic use costs approximately $75 billion a year [16]. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. How? Although, really, these tips can be used by anyone, not just kids. 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. The majority of this pollutiondominated by single-use plastic wastecomes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. On their long journey, they will encounter many difficulties and only a small portion of them will survive. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part. We do not know the full impact of microplastics exceeding the mass of plankton in the ocean. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. edinburgh airport address. 1. In countries with a lack of awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags, a polite refusal might not be met with much understanding. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! 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. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. This amount of marine life, which includes fish and turtles, is sufficient to fill 125 school buses. There is only one requirement these plastic bags need to be dry and clean, otherwise they contaminate the entire batch and your effort will do more harm than good. The majority of plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. and reefs composed of coral, F) I Plastic straws are one of the top five most often used items. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. 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]. Thats bad news for our carbon reduction goals: if plastic production continues unabated, its greenhouse gas emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030equal to adding nearly 300 new coal-fired power plantseven as the need to curb global climate change becomes more urgent. 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. 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. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. 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. . O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Speak out in support of local plastic bans, whether by calling your local government representative, submitting an op-ed to your citys newspaper, or simply starting conversations with neighbors. Here's a quick list of the ways plastic straws may be harming your health: 1. Plastic utensils are convenient and straws are fun for kids, but much of that plastic eventually winds up in a landfill or as litter. This form of ban could lead to a reduction in landfill across the country, going a long way to protect the nature and serenity of the area. 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. 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. 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. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. (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. (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. 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 Ill also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else youll need to know. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. Animals can also easily become entangled in this plastic waste. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. For most, straws are not a necessity, but a convenience. (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. 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. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Plastic waste, mostly broken down into tiny particles, floats in huge blobs amid ocean current patterns called gyres that together cover as much as 40 percent of Earths ocean surface. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. That's a whole 900 tons of plastic waste produced every day, and that's just for plastic straws! For instance, a lot of the plastic produced in Asian countries is for products that serve U.S. demandand the United States often sends plastic waste back to these countries for recycling.). According to some estimates, the cost of plastic bag cleanup is about 17 cents per bag [14] and the cost is paid by us once again. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gasintensive industries in the manufacturing sector. JIM LEAPE: Our oceans are currently swimming with plastics. Then, you should try to explain your reasons for not wanting your products packed in plastic bags. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. In Ireland, where this fee was instituted in 2002, plastic bag usage decreased by about 90 percent. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. 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. So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. 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. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. Interestingly, these granules contain the seeds of their own destruction: enzymes that break the polymer down when it is needed for food. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. 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. Do you also have that overflowing kitchen drawer full of plastic bags you bring from your shopping trips? Yes, it should. An Oregon community is making spectacular statues out of ocean plastic to raise awareness about a crisis at sea. 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. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. And the recent fracking boom, resulting in a surplus of oil, is fueling a subsequent rise in cracker plants, too. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Some experts estimate that more than 1 million sea animals are killed each year by straws and other types of plastic trash. 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. The inaccuracy of this number calls into doubt the veracity of the overall case against using plastic straws as a drinking implement. 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. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. Plastic Straws: Is Paper Really Better for the Environment? Another example of a locally issued ban is Seattle where not only single-use plastic bags have been banned but also single-use compostable and biodegradable bags. Considering what important source of food plankton is for many other species, it is clear that plastic gets distributed across the marine ecosystem. Exposure to microplastics, as well as the chemicals that are added to plastics during processing, harm our health. Animals living in the ocean might frequently confuse the plastic for food. Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. Or you may need to accept that plastic bag this time and then start campaigning for a plastic bag ban in your area . Individual actions can lead to collective actions. 2015-2023 Greentumble. 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. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. 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). 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. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. If the environmental movement drew up a Most Unwanted list for 2018, the plastic drinking straw surely would land 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. 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. Many of you may have heard it already. 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. The decrease in demand for plastic bags forces manufacturers to reduce their production and consider expanding in a supply of alternative products. McDonald's recently announced . (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. 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. 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. Scientists have recorded some species of zooplankton eating tiny plastic particles. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in the mid-19th century, it wasnt until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. What to do with plastic bags you already have at home? 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. 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. 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. According to a study that was published by Bloomberg News, it is predicted that the percentage of contaminated ocean water that is caused by plastic straws and stirrers is a shockingly modest 0.03 percent.
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