Plastic bags being the major component of the trash thrown away, most of it ends up on the streets. You as an individual have the power to make a gradual change in your community. 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. These tiny plastic particles have been found in our oceans, soil, and even in the air. We've all become too hooked on the availability and comfort of the stuff. 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. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits. 2. For those governments that are opposed to full bans on plastic bags, another option is to institute a plastic bag tax, where consumers or retailers would pay a small fee for each plastic bag. If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. You can be sure of one thing, though. Paper vs. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) 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. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. Straws made of plastic contribute to the pollution of our seas and streams. What do the bans accomplish? Plastic straws are everywhere we look. We should do likewise. Prior the ban, 70 percent of livestock losses were attributed to plastic bag ingestion. But you should also consider the other perspective what effect single-use bags have had on the local economy and product affordability. 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. The problem with plastic straws is that they are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary plastic pollution. Plastic items are more sanitary than other alternatives. Companies are trying to sell communities on a toxic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, microplastics are so small that they move straight through water filtration, Read More What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern? There were numerous cases of birds caught in plastic bags, unable to fly and feed, eventually strangling themselves to death. 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. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Sugar and oils are too expensive. They contribute to the contamination of our landfills and seas when they are discarded after use. Forty years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. 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. Better alternatives are available 10. Search for jobs related to Reasons why smoking should be banned articles or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 22m+ jobs. 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. 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. China doesnt want our plastic waste anymore. 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. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below. Let us know if you liked this article. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. A 2017 Environmental Sciences and Technology study reported that up to 95 percent of plastic waste enters oceans from one of 10 riverseight in Asia and two in Africa. We need to make fully biodegradable polymers that are cost-competitive. 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. They also arent accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). This could negatively reflect on their income. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. 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. Summary: Reduce your use of single-use plastics. Plastic straws only account for roughly one percent of the total amount of waste plastic found in the ocean. 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. 1. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. 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. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Shuddering and unable to breathe, he vomited up five plastic bags. Stanford experts discuss the limitations of these bans and the potential for meaningful change. 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. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. This type of plastic is derived from petroleum. Straws are notorious for being readily blown away by the wind. Participate in beach or river cleanups. Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg via Getty Images. This means that you need to first educate yourself about the problem. As plastic bags are not disposed properly . Buying a product through my link comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products that I believe in. 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. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. These examples could go on for a long time. (Photo credit: Shutterstock). 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. Individual actions can lead to collective actions. Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it cant be naturally broken down by decomposers. . While we may not pay for plastic bags directly when we go shopping, they are anything but free.. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. 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. So that free plastic bag isnt so free after all. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. PLASTIC STRAWS CANT BE BROKEN DOWN BY NATURE. There are some great initiatives that strive to provide jobs for women in rural communities with limited possibilities of securing monthly income. 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. (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. ), then its clean! They store these polymers inside their cells as tiny granules. Straws have been found stuck in a sea turtle's nose and wedged in the stomachs of dead birds and dolphins. CRIDDLE:We need to think about what incentives will promote a culture of recycling and innovation with respect to waste streams. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable. Thoughtful laws are needed to control the problem and at the same time encourage innovation. If there is one piece of advice that everyone should remember, it would be that nothing is for free in this world. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? (Everything You Need To Know). How To Make A Bracelet Out Of Plastic String? National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. The very best alternative is a reusable bag. Hi, Im Hugh, and my mission with Get Green Now is to raise awareness of environmental issues and teach people how to live sustainably. An additional problem with plastic grocery bags recycling is their cleanliness. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags. If youd like to learn more about how plastic straws negatively impact the environment, you can check out this article I wrote about the environmental impact of plastic straws. If environmental zealots and sycophants get their way, you won't be allowed to sip it through a plastic straw. Since their birth, baby turtles have only one goal to get to the sea and swim into deep waters where they will feed and if successful grow into adult turtles. Yes, it should. Thus, plastic straws cant be recycled. Logically, the key to starting a change in your community is education. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Yeah I end up going through like 5 paper straws because they keep disintegrating and I can't drink my drink anymore. Instead of searching for another buyer, maybe some soul-searching is in order. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Made from fossil fuels 3. These steps are pretty straight forward and depend on your own initiative. Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. The country instituted the ban in 2013 to minimize livestock deaths. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? High costs for cleanup 8. Look for another place that does accept or use alternative packaging, such as small local stores that use paper wraps or compostable bags. 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. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. The majority of plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. We all are just trying to do our job well. It means that most bags can be recycled. One recent survey found plastics in 94 percent of tap water samples in the U.S. and in nearly every brand of bottled water. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitousand so quickly thrown outthat they hardly register in our minds. In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. What can I do for you? 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). 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. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Criddle has evaluated use of microorganisms to biodegrade plastic materials and to synthesize biodegradable bioplastics from waste feedstocks. As part of the Break Free From Plastic movement, Greenpeace volunteers conducted an audit of plastic pollution along coastlines, sifting through tens of thousands of individual pieces across 42 countries to identify the pollutions sources. By simply using less plastic, you can help keep marine life from eating and getting entangled in garbage. According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. Theyve even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. State Disclosures. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they. Even if plastic doesnt end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. Banning plastic straws is also increasingly popular. 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]. Once the wheel starts spinning, it leads to even more positive changes. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. Martin Grimm/Picture-alliance via Associated Press. This strategy has been adopted by some countries and municipalities so far and has proven to greatly reduce plastic bag usage by consumers. 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. Scientists have recorded some species of zooplankton eating tiny plastic particles. Have a look yourself to imagine the suffering of these animals. Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). 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. Will others? So, plastic waste only speeds up the destruction of these most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. CRIDDLE:Cost is a huge issue. Other states such as Hawaii, cities such as Seattle and New York, and corporations such as Amazon and Starbucks are also considering or have initiated plastic phase-out plans. Plastic bag bansideally accompanied by a fee on paper bagsare also catching on. 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. 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.). Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags. After all, ask your grandparents, they will remember that during their time people were used to go shopping with their own bags or baskets. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. 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. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the earth - its people, 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. Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution. Have some dirty clothes that you just wore today? Some companies are taking initiative on their own. 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. The upshot of the Sydney study is that the California bag ban reduced plastic bag consumption by 71.5% - a huge decrease. Polypropylene is a form of plastic that is frequently used in the production of straws. 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. In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. McDonald's recently announced . 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. Most drop-off collection points accept plastic bags made from high-density polyethylene (plastic number 2) and low-density polyethylene (plastic number 4). The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. 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. 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. You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. 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. According to a study carried out in 2013, up to 35 percent of turtle deaths were caused by plastic ingestion and the probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year [9]. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs. 4. It started with cardboard straws, but once plastic production in America increased, people realized it was quicker and cheaper to produce plastic straws. Plastic bags. Why is plastic bad for the environment? Help us break the cycle of causing unnecessary harm and damage in the name of "convenience". Problematic degradation 4. 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. Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. 6461 garfield street hollywood, fl. 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]. 2023 Get Green Now. 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? How? 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. Plastics also permeate freshwater systems like rivers and streams. It is estimated that there are now 150 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. update email soon. 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. But, are paper straws really better for the environment? This means that the average consumption of plastic bags per person dropped from 328 bags per year to just 21 [20]. 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. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Post date: 18 yesterday. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world. Gas, bloating, and intestinal discomfort. You could either discuss with a store manager a possibility of bringing your own containers for these products. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl products were found most often. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. If you are constantly feeling gassy, then you should definitely consider drinking beverages the old fashioned way. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. According to the findings of a study that was carried out in 2019 by students at the University of Washington, 78 percent of respondents used straws made of biodegradable materials that are in compliance with the prohibition, and 68 percent used utensils that are in compliance with the ban.