Are you still using plastic straws?Single-use plastic straws turn into being extremely bad for the natural environment. A viral image on the internet of a turtle with a plastic straw in its nose caused the entire world to look at a pressing environmental concern.Plastics are choking the oceans and their inhabitants. The durable and easy-to-use material is used in practically every industry. Unfortunately, the same durability also hinders plastic from breaking down entirely. Thrown into landfills or rivers, the plastic merely becomes smaller in size and ends in the world’s oceans. The tiny particles are mistaken as food by marine life. Hence, the growing imagery of birds and whales with plastic in their guts. There are patches in the ocean that have mountains of plastic floating.The growing environmental consciousness has led to governments taking measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste. This includes banning single-use plastics like straws, bags, cutlery, and so on. In the United States, many cities have adopted these bans and are shifting towards adopting alternatives like paper, glass, bamboo, edible straws that can be recycled. Items that you can recycle are much better for the environment and are commonly termed ’eco-friendly.‘Here is all you need to know about the drinking straw ban! Expand your knowledge, explore earth is a magnet and eros planetoid.Effect Of Plastics On The EnvironmentIf you have ever participated in clean-up drives, you will end up collecting a lot of this material- Plastic. Whether it is plastic straws, bags, bottles, etc., 336 million tons (304.81 billion kg) of plastic makes it into the litter every year. Only a small portion of it is incinerated most end in the natural environment, which is carried into the world’s oceans. This is where the plastic problem worsens!Plastic products can be found on the shelves of every supermarket, and most are single-use plastic items that you buy, use, and throw away. Even if you dispose of plastic in the right place, the problem lies in its properties. Plastics are durable and resistant to degradation, making them hard to destroy completely. Disposed of plastics that end up rotting in landfills or worse, water bodies only shrink in size. The small particles end up in the bellies of land and marine mammals. It is expected that by 2050 the oceans will be filled with more plastic than aquatic life.8.96 million tons (8.12 billion kg) of plastic makes it to the world’s oceans every year. You can see mountains of floating plastic waste in water bodies like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Unfortunately, it is also found in the guts of fishes, sea turtles, and other marine life who mistake it for food. Ingestion of plastics is deadly for marine animals, from microscopic animals to large mammals like whales. Plastic consumption results in slow poisoning due to the chemicals and has other effects like malnutrition. Studies have also shown plastics lead to species extinction.What was the drinking straw ban?Governments and environmental groups are paying heed to the disastrous effects of plastics. Many initiatives have been launched to raise awareness. One strict initiative is the banning of drinking straws and other single-use plastics.Milo Cress, a nine-year-old boy, inspired the anti-straw movement across the globe. In 2011, the young guy started the Be Straw Movement to raise awareness about Americans’ massive use of straws. He noticed something you may also have- the use of disposable plastic straws. While plastic straws may not be as problematic as other plastic products, you may ask why the attention? The problem lies in their inconspicuous size, so they get missed out during recycling. Now governments around the globe are working towards banning or limiting the use of plastic straws immediately or by a specific period.In the United States, Seattle started banning plastic straws in July 2018. The city council demanded sit-down restaurants and food chains arrange recyclable alternatives. Washington DC banned plastic straws by 2019, and other coastal cities like Miami Beach in Florida and California followed. The European Union has been proactively establishing legislations to phase out plastic straws and other single-use plastics like banning the products or placing a tax on plastic waste. In the world, Vanuatu and Seychelles are two countries that have completely banned the use of plastic straws. According to statistics, at least 14 % of countries have adopted some legislation against single-use plastics. Almost 66 % of countries have legislation restricting the use of plastic bags.Many global corporations have also taken a stand against plastic like Coca-Cola in Australia has started eliminating unnecessary plastic straws and packaging to reduce plastic trash.Single-Use Plastic Bans In The USAIn the United States, different city councils have started to ban plastic straws. Along with the plastic straw bans, single-use plastic bags, stirrers, and other products have been banned. Only by special requests, like for people with disabilities, exceptions to this ban can be made.When was the last time you saw a plastic straw in your city? Especially if you live in areas like Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC, it was probably around three years ago. Following the worldwide outcry against the use of plastics, especially single-use plastics, many cities in the US and even corporations have adopted legislation and policies against plastic straws, plastic bottles, and other products.Seattle launched a plastic ban in July 2018, Washington DC placed a plastic ban in January 2019. In 2020, California, Oregon, New York State, and Vermont followed. Hawaii has established a state-wide ban on single-use plastic. Some municipalities have also placed taxes on plastic bags. Miami Beach and Malibu have also put restrictions on the use of plastics. Maine has the most comprehensive plastic ban in the United States. In San Francisco, plastic straws and other single-use plastics like plastic lids have been banned since July 2019. Instead, you will have to look for alternative straws to enjoy your cold beverages. Some corporations have taken the initiative to remove plastic straws and replace them with alternatives like compostable straws. Starbucks is one such international beverage company.On the flip side, there has been some resistance against such bans. Some groups like people with disabilities are dependent on plastic straws and cutlery for food and beverage consumption. The first time straws were used was in hospitals to feed people with disabilities or illnesses. Disability advocates have put forward this issue and are requesting for the blanket plastic straw bans not to be placed. The counterargument states that people can use paper, metal, and glass alternatives. However, there are issues when using these recyclable materials, such as flexibility and health risks. City councils take into account the problems faced by people with disabilities and hence, have allowed exceptions in their legislation.Alternative To Using Plastic StrawsNow you know the effects of plastics and how municipalities are slowly phasing out plastic straws in the United States and global corporations, what is the alternative? Reusable straws are the way to go. Paper straws, metal straws, bamboo straws, silicone straws are just some examples of reusable straws.Straw bans are taking place across the world. You can contribute your bit by choosing alternatives like keeping a metal straw. Another alternative to plastic straws is paper straws. Made of paper, these straws are available in a riot of colors and patterns. The best part is that paper straws can be recycled. However, the paper is not very sturdy and durable. It is likely to get soggy if left too long in a beverage. This will lead you to ask for another paper straw as a replacement.The next alternative is metal straws. These are the most durable straws and often come with a cleaning tool for you to wash and reuse easily. The most common variant is made up of stainless steel. There are also many collapsible variants of metal straw available in the market. These handy straws are perfect for travelers. However, being a costly option, it is not viable for beverage corporations or a food chain to provide metal straws to its customers.A sustainable and organic option is bamboo straws. These straws are chemical-free, biodegradable, and sustainable.Silicone straws are colorful and kid-friendly. These can be recycled as well. Some have also developed sturdy glass straws. Glass straws have the advantage of being resistant to heat to be used with both cold and hot beverages.Some have developed edible straws that use flour of vegetables like potatoes and tapioca. These plant-based straws are gaining popularity for being vegan, biodegradable, chemical-free, and gluten-free. Hay straws are a similar example. Made from wheat, these straws are pocket-friendly and recyclable.Then there is something like the recycled plastic straw. This straw is made of Polylactic Acid, which does not depend on fossil fuels. These are compostable, however, only in certain conditions.The best option is to say no to straws entirely if you can help it. Many restaurants or food chains will, by default, offer you a plastic straw with your beverage. But if you can manage to drink the beverage without the straw, then do so. You can ask them for no straws.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for What Is drinking straw ban, plastic waste and its effect on the environment, then why not take a look at why do plants need nitrogen, plant growth facts worth knowing or why do dogs have wet noses, cool animal facts to know?
Are you still using plastic straws?
