Editorial: Half a billion plastic straws are used and discarded every day. What an unacceptable waste
7 years, 2 months ago

Editorial: Half a billion plastic straws are used and discarded every day. What an unacceptable waste

LA Times  

Every day Americans use — and almost immediately discard — up to half a billion plastic beverage straws. It’s not clear where that number came from, but it seems credible considering how many takeout sodas, frappuccinos, smoothies, cold-press juices, boba teas and other beverages Americans buy every day, most of which are accompanied by a complimentary plastic straw. Even if a stray straw doesn’t find its way into the orifice of a sea animal, plastic doesn’t biodegrade like organic matter. Even if a stray straw doesn’t find its way into the orifice of a sea animal, plastic doesn’t biodegrade like organic matter but breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that clog the ocean and get consumed by marine life.

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History of this topic

What's Better, Plastic Or Paper Straws?
1 week, 3 days ago

What's Better, Plastic Or Paper Straws?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING On Feb. 10, President Donald Trump issued an executive order ending the procurement and use of paper straws at federal agencies. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images Donald Trump speaks after signing a series of executive orders, including an order for the federal government to stop using paper straws and begin using plastic straws, on Feb. 10. The …

Humanity may be at risk of being strangled by a plastic straw
3 weeks ago

Humanity may be at risk of being strangled by a plastic straw

Live Mint  

What could cause the end of humanity? As awareness of the consequences of climate change grew widespread, it was clear that the best counter-measure to tackle this peril would be to encourage sustainable behaviour among nations, corporates and ordinary citizens around the world. With so much uncertainty around, it is difficult to convince an ordinary person to accept short-term costs …

What's Better, Plastic Or Paper Straws?
3 weeks, 1 day ago

What's Better, Plastic Or Paper Straws?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING On Feb. 10, President Donald Trump issued an executive order ending the procurement and use of paper straws at federal agencies. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images Donald Trump speaks after signing a series of executive orders, including an order for the federal government to stop using paper straws and begin using plastic straws, on Feb. 10. The …

Plastic straws have come to symbolize a global pollution crisis. Trump wants them to stay
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Plastic straws have come to symbolize a global pollution crisis. Trump wants them to stay

Associated Press  

Straws might seem insignificant, inspiring jokes about the plastic vs. paper debate, but the plastic straw has come to symbolize a global pollution crisis over the past decade. On Monday, President Donald Trump waded into the issue when he signed an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, declaring that paper straws “don’t work” and don’t …

'Won't affect a shark': Trump signs order against paper straws
1 month, 2 weeks ago

'Won't affect a shark': Trump signs order against paper straws

Raw Story  

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday pushing for a return to plastic drinking straws, saying their impact on marine life was limited and that paper ones favored by environmentalists "explode." Republican Trump's order reverses a target set by his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden to eliminate single-use plastic utensils like straws across government agencies by 2035. "We're going …

’Back to plastic’: Trump pushes for plastic straws as he declares paper ones ’don’t work’
1 month, 2 weeks ago

’Back to plastic’: Trump pushes for plastic straws as he declares paper ones ’don’t work’

The Hindu  

President Donald Trump is moving to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, declaring that paper straws “don’t work” and don't last very long. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Mr. Trump said Monday as he signed an executive order to review federal purchasing policies that restrict plastic straws. The move by Mr. Trump — who has long railed …

Don't think plastic is going to affect the shark: Trump quips as he okays plastic straws
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Don't think plastic is going to affect the shark: Trump quips as he okays plastic straws

India TV News  

Trump bans paper straws: In another major decision, US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he wants the government to move to plastic straws from paper ones. Joe Biden's policy is dead: Trump Trump has for long been opposing the use of paper straws, and even his 2019 reelection campaign witnessed the sale of Trump-branded reusable plastic straws for …

‘Back to plastic': Trump signs order for plastic straws as he declares paper ones ‘don’t work’
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

‘Back to plastic': Trump signs order for plastic straws as he declares paper ones ‘don’t work’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday he is banning federal use of paper straws, saying they “don’t work” and don’t last very long. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said as he signed an executive order to reverse federal purchasing policies that encourage paper straws and restrict plastic ones. The order directs federal agencies to stop buying paper …

Making pollutants great again: Trump says he’s bringing back plastic straws in new executive order
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Making pollutants great again: Trump says he’s bringing back plastic straws in new executive order

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President Donald Trump said Friday …

The bloody turtle video that sparked a plastic straw revolution
11 months, 3 weeks ago

The bloody turtle video that sparked a plastic straw revolution

BBC  

The bloody turtle video that sparked a plastic straw revolution Alamy Marine animals have become increasingly exposed to harmful plastic pollution Bloody and in pain, when a plastic straw became lodged in the nostril of a turtle, a video showing its removal shook the world – sparking a movement to rid the world of plastic straws. Jackie Nuñez Straws have …

Plastic or paper? The truth about drinking straws
1 year, 4 months ago

Plastic or paper? The truth about drinking straws

BBC  

The truth about drinking straws Getty Images The backlash against plastic straws has left consumers searching for alternatives The backlash against single-use plastics has seen a growing market for paper, metal, glass and plant-based straws. "And while we know it's not that simple, and the problem goes far beyond the use of plastic straws, a global crisis like plastic pollution …

The Planet Earth in a Plastic Soup
1 year, 9 months ago

The Planet Earth in a Plastic Soup

Hindustan Times  

The United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry to honour the 100th Anniversary of the Nobel award in Chemistry to Marie Curie and also to commemorate the contributions of chemical sciences in the progress of human civilization. Unsurprisingly, the United Nations has declared ‘#Beat Plastic Pollution’ as the central theme of this year’s World Environment Day — …

Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse
2 years, 5 months ago

Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse

NPR  

Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse Enlarge this image toggle caption Laura Sullivan/NPR Laura Sullivan/NPR The vast majority of plastic that people use, and in many cases put into blue recycling bins, is headed to landfills, or worse, according to a report from Greenpeace on the state of plastic recycling in the U.S. Greenpeace …

The need for plastic de-addiction
2 years, 5 months ago

The need for plastic de-addiction

Hindustan Times  

“It cannot be right to manufacture billions of objects that are used for a matter of minutes, and then are with us for centuries.”--Roz Savage The catla fish swimming serenely could not have foreseen the plastic band wrapping around its body and entrapping it. The sea turtle feasting on what seemed like a new delicacy could not have imagined that …

Best reusable straws 2021: Metal, steel, silicone and foldable options
3 years, 7 months ago

Best reusable straws 2021: Metal, steel, silicone and foldable options

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping experts Sign up for our free IndyBest email Sign up for our free IndyBest email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy If you are among the millions of people who …

Ocean largely littered with takeaway food and drink items, study finds
3 years, 9 months ago

Ocean largely littered with takeaway food and drink items, study finds

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Almost half of the litter found in the world’s oceans is plastic made by takeaway …

England's plastic straw ban: When did it start and why is it happening?
4 years, 5 months ago

England's plastic straw ban: When did it start and why is it happening?

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

Plastic straw ban comes into force in England
4 years, 5 months ago

Plastic straw ban comes into force in England

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds were used in …

Ribena trialling paper straws to reduce plastic usage
4 years, 6 months ago

Ribena trialling paper straws to reduce plastic usage

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

Ocean plastic pollution set to double within 30 years – and clean-up technology won’t solve problem, study shows
4 years, 7 months ago

Ocean plastic pollution set to double within 30 years – and clean-up technology won’t solve problem, study shows

The Independent  

Devices that collect floating waste from the surface of the ocean will not solve the problem of plastic pollution, a study shows. “The other major solutions are to bury or burn it — but burying could contaminate the ground and burning leads to extra CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.” The study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, …

Plastic pollution flowing into oceans to triple by 2040: Study
4 years, 8 months ago

Plastic pollution flowing into oceans to triple by 2040: Study

India Today  

The amount of plastic waste flowing into the ocean and killing marine life could triple in the next 20 years, unless companies and governments can drastically reduce plastic production, a new study published on Thursday said. If no action is taken, however, the amount of plastic going into the sea every year will rise from 11 million tonnes to 29 …

Editorial: The plastics you don’t see might kill you
4 years, 8 months ago

Editorial: The plastics you don’t see might kill you

LA Times  

Disposable gloves and face masks — along with antiseptic wipes, disposable grocery bags, and bottles of hand sanitizer — have been crucial first lines of defense against the coronavirus. Sadly, though disposable plastic masks and gloves may be helping to save lives now, they may be endangering our future health. In June, the COVID-19 pandemic collided with another national crisis …

Welsh government announces ban on single-use plastic in bid to tackle ocean waste
5 years ago

Welsh government announces ban on single-use plastic in bid to tackle ocean waste

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

Why biodegradables won’t solve the plastic crisis
5 years, 4 months ago

Why biodegradables won’t solve the plastic crisis

BBC  

Why biodegradables won’t solve the plastic crisis Getty Images A Bangladeshi child sifts through waste "Green" alternatives to throwaway plastics don’t always break down in sea water. “Which you could argue is more problematic because you can't clean up – it's like trying to pick up Smarties with chopsticks.” Getty Images When plastics break down in the sea they become …

Of course McDonald's paper straws can't be recycled – it's yet another corporate green wash
5 years, 7 months ago

Of course McDonald's paper straws can't be recycled – it's yet another corporate green wash

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This week global fast food chain …

The inflexibility of plastic
5 years, 8 months ago

The inflexibility of plastic

The Economist  

A S WESTERN HOLIDAYMAKERS escape their daily grind and head to the beach this summer, a concern is likely to resurface—literally, if it washes up on the pristine sand in front of them. In the past two years plastic litter in the ocean seems to have eclipsed other environmental anxieties among rich-world consumers. Harrowing images of sea life ensnared in …

Woman Dies After Accidentally Impaling Herself With Metal Straw
5 years, 8 months ago

Woman Dies After Accidentally Impaling Herself With Metal Straw

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING A British woman died when she fell onto her reusable straw, a coroner said in an inquest this week that highlighted the possible dangers of metal straws, The New York Times reported. Yet, disability activists have pushed back against the plastic straw bans, arguing that many people with disabilities need the plastic straws to drink and that …

Plastic straws and cotton buds to be banned next year in effort to tackle plastic pollution
5 years, 9 months ago

Plastic straws and cotton buds to be banned next year in effort to tackle plastic pollution

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds are to be banned in England from April next …

Plastic water bottles may one day fly planes
5 years, 9 months ago

Plastic water bottles may one day fly planes

Live Mint  

BENGALURU :A research group led by Washington State University scientists has found a way to turn daily plastic waste products into jet fuel. In a new paper published in the journal Applied Energy, WSU's Hanwu Lei and colleagues melted plastic waste at high temperature with activated carbon, a processed carbon with increased surface area, to produce jet fuel. "Waste plastic …

There’s plastic litter at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench. Human destruction will outlive us all
5 years, 10 months ago

There’s plastic litter at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench. Human destruction will outlive us all

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. That the impact on our planet …

Single-use plastics banned by EU Parliament
5 years, 11 months ago

Single-use plastics banned by EU Parliament

CNN  

CNN — The European Parliament has approved a law banning a wide-range of single-use plastic items, such as straws, cotton buds and cutlery, by 2021. The law, which was supported by 560 Members of the European Parliament against 35 on Wednesday, stipulates that 10 single-use plastic items will be banned in order to curb ocean pollution. “Europe is setting new …

Do you know about the plastic recycling blindspot that clogs up our bags and pockets?
6 years ago

Do you know about the plastic recycling blindspot that clogs up our bags and pockets?

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A landmark …

Jeremy Paxman on why it's time for ALL of us to clear up dustbin Britain
6 years, 2 months ago

Jeremy Paxman on why it's time for ALL of us to clear up dustbin Britain

Daily Mail  

It’s all Nathaniel Wyeth’s fault. When the Victorian scientist Alexander Parkes invented the first man-made plastic he wasn’t setting out to make a killing machine, like his fellow resident of South Norwood cemetery, Hiram Maxim, creator of the machine gun. In fact, last year, a Mail investigation, headlined ‘Dustbin of the World’, revealed that plastic items washed up on a …

Single-use plastics ban backed by European Parliament
6 years, 5 months ago

Single-use plastics ban backed by European Parliament

CNN  

CNN — The European Parliament has voted to ban a range of single-use plastics such as straws, cotton buds and cutlery and to ensure most bottles are recycled in a bid to curb ocean pollution. After the vote was carried by 571-53 on Wednesday, the Member of the European Parliament who proposed the bill, Frederique Ries, tweeted that it was …

Plastic straws and cotton buds could be banned from next year in bid to tackle ocean pollution
6 years, 5 months ago

Plastic straws and cotton buds could be banned from next year in bid to tackle ocean pollution

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A ban on use of plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds could be in …

We Can Ban Plastic Straws, But America’s Eating Habits Are The Real Problem
6 years, 6 months ago

We Can Ban Plastic Straws, But America’s Eating Habits Are The Real Problem

Huff Post  

jon11 via Getty Images One of the biggest food trends of 2018 isn’t even something you can eat. Though the number of plastic straws Americans use every day is an unverified statistic, one 9-year-old boy famously estimated the number to be 500 million. No matter the exact number, plastic straws are no doubt contributing to the billions of pounds of …

California Prohibits Restaurants From Automatically Giving Out Plastic Straws
6 years, 6 months ago

California Prohibits Restaurants From Automatically Giving Out Plastic Straws

Huff Post  

A debate surrounding plastic straws has bubbled up in recent months as several major cities have instituted or considered similar bans. Seattle became the first major U.S. city to institute a ban on plastic straws and utensils at all food service businesses in July. Scotland has said it plans to outlaw plastic straws by 2019, while Taiwan aims to ban …

The anti-plastic straw campaign is helpful – but if we want to save marine life, we need to stop eating fish
6 years, 6 months ago

The anti-plastic straw campaign is helpful – but if we want to save marine life, we need to stop eating fish

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. One of the greatest overall threats …

California lawmakers vote to restrict use of plastic straws, keeping state in national spotlight on environment
6 years, 7 months ago

California lawmakers vote to restrict use of plastic straws, keeping state in national spotlight on environment

LA Times  

Plastic straws sit at the ready at a cafe in San Francisco. “Reducing consumer demand for plastic straws can help decrease plastic pollution.” The measure drew opposition from Republican lawmakers, including Assemblyman Matthew Harper of Huntington Beach, who said restricting straws may add more plastic to the waste stream as businesses use straw-less lids made of plastic, and paper straws …

Reduce your plastic footprint with this reusable straw
6 years, 7 months ago

Reduce your plastic footprint with this reusable straw

Salon  

Many companies and even some cities are ditching or banning the use of plastic straws. If you think about the number of beverages you've consumed in the past week alone, and the number of plastic straws that accompanied them, that's a massive amount of plastic being used for a single-serving purpose. An easy way to help out these efforts without …

War on Waste: Do we really use 10 million straws a day? We don't know, but it's time to count
6 years, 7 months ago

War on Waste: Do we really use 10 million straws a day? We don't know, but it's time to count

ABC  

Have you heard this statistic? Nicole Nash, founder of The Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef, would welcome an audit of Australia's straw use, but says we don't need to put a number on straws to know they're a problem. Another oft-quoted statistic on straw use is that the USA uses and throws away 500 million plastic straws every …

Marriott hotels eliminating plastic straws by 2019
6 years, 8 months ago

Marriott hotels eliminating plastic straws by 2019

Associated Press  

DETROIT — Marriott International plans to remove plastic straws and drink stirrers from all of its 6,500 hotels and resorts worldwide by next year. Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott says the year-long timeframe will let hotels deplete their existing supplies and identify alternatives to plastic straws. Hilton Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corp. have also said they plan to stop using plastic straws …

Straw No More in Adelaide as Mayor backs ban with War On Waste II set for launch
6 years, 8 months ago

Straw No More in Adelaide as Mayor backs ban with War On Waste II set for launch

ABC  

A ban on distributing most single-use plastic straws at Adelaide parklands, city square and council-managed events could be in place as soon as next year — if Adelaide's Mayor has his way. Loading Facebook content War On Waste on the case Single-use plastic straws are also in the crosshairs of the ABC's War On Waste program, which is about to …

Respect the straw ban, even if it won’t save much plastic.
6 years, 8 months ago

Respect the straw ban, even if it won’t save much plastic.

Slate  

On Monday, Starbucks announced it would eliminate plastic straws from more than 28,000 stores by 2020, becoming the biggest player in a surging movement against straws. Alaska Airlines abandoned straws and plastic stirrers in May ; Seattle became the first major city in the U.S. to ban plastic straws earlier this month. By weight, straws likely constitute a minuscule fraction …

Starbucks straws vs. sippy cups: Which is better for your teeth?
6 years, 8 months ago

Starbucks straws vs. sippy cups: Which is better for your teeth?

Slate  

Starbucks, America’s favorite coffee chain and purveyor of hip acoustic soundtracks, announced on Monday that it plans to take its hometown of Seattle’s recent ban on plastic straws one step further. By 2020, every single one of the company’s 28,000 stores worldwide will phase out plastic straws by replacing their current lids with a strawless version that some have described …

Starbucks, citing ocean threat, is ditching plastic straws
6 years, 8 months ago

Starbucks, citing ocean threat, is ditching plastic straws

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Starbucks will eliminate plastic straws from all of its locations within two years, the coffee chain announced Monday, becoming the largest food and beverage company to do so as calls for businesses and cities to cut waste grow louder. A week after its hometown of Seattle banned plastic drinking straws and utensils, Starbucks said Monday that by …

Starbucks will stop using plastic straws by 2020
6 years, 8 months ago

Starbucks will stop using plastic straws by 2020

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Since the city of Seattle outlawed plastic straws …

Starbucks is ditching plastic straws
6 years, 8 months ago

Starbucks is ditching plastic straws

LA Times  

Starbucks Corp. said Monday that it will eliminate single-use plastic straws from all of its locations within two years, becoming the largest food and beverage company to do so as calls for businesses and cities to cut waste grow louder. Although plastic straws account for a small percentage of the pollution that ends up in the ocean, they have become …

Is Seattle’s straw ban a green gateway drug or just peak slactivism?
6 years, 8 months ago

Is Seattle’s straw ban a green gateway drug or just peak slactivism?

Salon  

Suddenly, everyone and their mother is against plastic straws. “I think it’s a way for people to feel that they have some agency over the problem of ocean plastics,” says Kara Lavender Law, researcher and professor at the Sea Education Association. “These are things that we have easy alternatives for.” Compared to seemingly insurmountable problems like climate change, which can …

Seattle becomes first major US city to ban plastic straws and utensils
6 years, 8 months ago

Seattle becomes first major US city to ban plastic straws and utensils

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Seattle has become the …

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