The plastic itself is a trouble for the planet, and no matter what product you make from it, land pollution is going to increase. If we compare the decomposition of this material to other stuff such as paper, wheat straw, and more, plastic takes the most time. It takes 100 years to decompose, adding to plastic piles everywhere.
If we don’t take it seriously now, the Earth will be full of plastic in the coming years, and sea creatures will start dying. Plastic usually breaks down into small pieces, and other living beings start getting hurt when they float into our oceans. In several countries, plastic is banned as they already sense the dangerous factors that come with it. Let’s see in-depth what effects plastic straws have already left and what there is more still don’t visible to us.
Why are Plastic Straws Bad for the Environment and Must be banned?
The Particular Problem of Plastic Straws for the Environment
As we all know, plastic is one of the most popular materials used globally. From drinks to parties, we can see plastic straws in almost everything, which is why the disposal amount is also heavy. Take a closer look at the history of plastic decomposition. You will know that this product is not biodegradable and impossible to recycle for any other use. Anything made of plastic is not reusable because the more it gets old, the tiny particles start leaving in your food.
People start throwing things at the beach, and as a result, it all flows to our sea creatures. Many sea creatures are becoming extinct due to sea pollution, and plastic plays a massive role. The water mixed with plastic harms everyone; even when we throw plastic on land, it also harms plants. Plastic can’t get used as a fertilizer, releasing chemicals into the soil, resulting in poor plant health. Sea trash collection facilities are trying their best, but tons of plastic waste are impossible to dump daily. The plastic bottle you throw in the sea will still be there when you are a great-grandparent.
What are some alternatives to plastic straws?
There are several sustainable products in the market, but plastic is the most common, so we often grab the pack without a second thought. It’s high time to think about the planet’s health and how we can start reducing waste by adapting to more options other than plastic.
Paper Straws
Many companies are switching to paper straws as they are easy to decompose and recyclable. Sir David Attenborough has done a BBC documentary in which he portrayed what is happening inside the sea when plastic reaches the animals. Plastic straw accidentally moved into the nostril of the turtle, and as a result, he suffered from massive injury.
Paper straws are environmental-friendly and never take much time to decompose. It’s proved that paper straws are made from food-safe paper, which will not harm your health or animals. It’s one of the best alternatives to plastic straws.
Wheat Straw Plastic
wheat straw plastic is an environmental-friendly product that reduces plastic waste on the planet. The wheat straw is a by-product of wheat production. As it is made from edible material, there is no harm in discarding the straw anywhere because of quick decomposition. It takes the same amount of time to decompose as the paper. From working with smoothies to juices, it never melts away due to natural processing in your drink. It’s another excellent alternative to plastic straws and is relatively cheap.
The best thing about wheat straw plastic is it works as the best fertilization for plants. It starts decomposing at the same rate as plastic and is reusable. They are highly acceptable for recycling and have zero waste when you throw them out.
Stainless Steel Straw
Stainless steel straws are a perfect alternative to plastic, but they are not as cheap as other options. They are non-toxic, reusable, and easy to clean. Even if you want to use this option for your kids to prevent contamination, you can sterilize it for using it several times. Most of these straws come up with a cleaning brush so you can keep using them, and even after discarding them, they can recycle to prepare more products.
Copper Straw
If you often buy plastic straws for a home for disposable usage, you can also consider copper straws. Copper is an anti-bacterial material, and even after using it several times, you can see the lasting beauty like it’s new. Putting a copper plastic in a hot beverage will not leave grains in your food. Copper is not microwave-safe, so you must keep it away from such electronics.
Read: Best Plastic Free Coffee Maker
How much do plastic straws affect the environment?
When waterways are getting cleaned, you can see how much plastic comes out of the drain. In the same way, it’s a massive cause of sea pollution, and yearly, around 2.4tons of plastic they carry out. It is also responsible for killing and injuring sea creatures. Other straw types such as plastic, copper, and steel never release toxins into the soil, but plastic does. It can make your soil useless after a particular time and harm the plants.
If we keep using plastic the same way as now, by 2050, we will contribute a big part to sea pollution. Estimated there will be around 950 million tonnes of plastic waste on Earth, so there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Today, plastic waste is increasing by 5% every year. Our planet is going through a crucial time, and there is a dire need to reduce waste, or we will destroy the planet in a few years.
When you start littering the beach, many plastic bottles, crockery, shoppers, and other stuff get mixed into the water and release toxins. They start breaking down into small pieces, and their granules are considered “destruction atoms.” Several countries are seriously considering the problem and planning to ban plastic. It will still take a century to reduce plastic waste from Earth because currently, it’s getting used openly in many places.
When we throw away plastic irresponsibly, birds can eat the small grains, too, and as a result, it will stay in the bird’s stomach even after her death. It’s our responsibility now to save mammals and other animals from ingesting plastic waste. Several documentaries have been made now on plastic waste, and it has shocked millions of followers.
Why Plastic Straws Should Be Banned
Over the next few years, banning plastic straws will be a new global campaign. Many countries have taken the initiative to completely protect the environment and this planet, especially California, to ban plastic. They have spread awareness about alternatives so people can shift their mindset to other stuff, and it helps them reduce plastic. They are introducing several materials that can decompose faster and never harm animals.
From wheat straws plastic to copper straws, you can count on each of them as they are far away from destruction, and also, when you throw them out, they can get recycled. There are many places where straws are no longer a running product, such as Scotland, Miami Beach, New York City, California, Taiwan, Great Britain, and more. It is common in many public places where you can’t bring anything made of plastic or use it.
Another massive cause of plastic straws banning is the poison blending into our blood. Have you ever thought about why this plastic is contagious, although we are not eating it directly? Because our sea creatures are feeding on it, and it remains in their system even when we cook them. That plastic is responsible for playing with our bodies and causing medical complications. These include hormonal change, thyroid issues, abnormal growth, and cancer.
Plastic is affecting not only human beings but wildlife, too. To deal with this genuine threat to the planet, we have to take the initiative and ban the use of plastic at any cost for a better future.
Final Thoughts
Not every plastic is recyclable; some can never break down and leave toxins daily. In the same way, plastic straws are equally contagious, and no matter how hard you try, it’s not possible to put them to good use. They are not only harmful to the planet but you as well. If you ever put a plastic straw in a hot beverage, it will start melting, which is not visible to our naked eye.
The plastic straw will leave its small particles in your food or drink; soon as they enter your body, it’s impossible to digest them. Plastic is responsible for causing so many diseases, including cancer and infertility. To save the planet, the only way to avoid beach littering and trash are to move to sustainable options such as paper straw or wheat straw plastic.