Ban on Plastic Straws: Taking Action to Reduce Ocean Pollution - Essay Sample

Introduction

Studies have illustrated that straws are the seventh notable pollutants collected during the regular cleanup of the coast. Recently, numerous food industries and governments and food industries initiated the blueprint to support the ban on the plastic straw to assist in addressing the worrying trend in the pollution of the ocean. For instance, various companies and cities in the United States of America unanimously agreed to effect the ban on plastic straws (Kessler 10). The inspiration to ban plastic straws is mostly drawn from the global proposal to ban the use and manufacture of all the plastic products. Nonetheless, the first open proposal to the ban of plastic use can be dated back to the early 2000s, a period that witnessed tax being heavily increased on the plastic products. As such, several countries in Europe have reconsidered increasing the tax on plastic products to discourage production. This paper will look into the advantages, disadvantages, alternatives, costs, and the category of people who will be affected by the ban on plastic straws.

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The Disadvantages of Plastic Straws Ban

There are multiple advantages associated with the production and use of plastic straws. Thus, the ban on plastic straws will adversely affect certain sections of both the economy and the citizens. For instance, a ban on plastic straws will significantly limit the growth and development of numerous local businesses. This is linked to the high costs the enterprises are likely to face if the plastic straws are banned. Averagely, the plastic straw costs about $0.005, while an alternative to the plastic straw like the paper straw costs approximately $0.025 (Mosquera 16). This is immensely harmful to small businesses like boba tea shops as they will be forced to operate at unexpected high costs due to the relatively expensive alternatives of the plastic straws.

Furthermore, plastic straws do not make up a significant percentage of the plastic waste collected in the ocean, unlike other plastic products. As a result, the government and other stakeholders involved will end up using a lot of money and resources to campaign, raise awareness, and eventually ban the use of plastic straws (Viera 178). A course that might to not have any effect to change in the environment owing to the insignificant contribution to the ocean’s pollution by the plastic straws. Nevertheless, research shows that the plastic straws contribute a mere 0.03 percent of the overall waste of plastic by mass; in contrast, an overwhelming 46 percent of the total ocean’s pollution is composed of abandoned or lost fishing gears (Mosquera 22).

Moreover, the ban on plastic straws will cause a significant drawback to disabled individuals who depend on the plastic straw to drink. For most people with disabilities, the only way they can effectively drink essential fluids like water is through the use of plastic straws (Caverly 120). As a result, the ban of plastic straws may lead to such individuals experiencing difficulties hence discomfort when taking their meals in public. For example, a disabled individual who lacks the necessary capacity to pick or hold a cup correctly requires the intervention of a plastic straw to drink effectively.

The Advantages of the Plastic Straws Ban

The ban on plastic straws will be of great benefit to the aquatic ecosystem. In most cases, many marine animals' injuries and deaths result from interaction with the plastic straws that are carelessly littered in the ocean by the public. Nonetheless, the consumption of the straws by the animals often lead to internal injuries or severe chocking. Many wildlife professionals agree to have witnessed different situations where the animals are either killed or injured by the plastic straws (Mosquera 5). As such, the plastic ban had been observed in numerous zoos before the first open proposal on the plastic ban was made.

Nonetheless, the ban on plastic straws will dramatically aid in the reduction of environmental litter and contamination. The most recent research has successfully proved that not every plastic litter persists for centuries in the environment (Kessler 13). However, the slow but steady breakdown of the plastic products like the plastic straws eventually leads to the release of potentially carcinogenic chemicals like the bisphenol A into the aquatic ecosystem. Hence, the ban on plastic straws will lead to a cleaner marine environment since their number will be significantly suppressed.

Furthermore, the ban on plastic straws will result in the immediate elimination of plastic straws products in the environment. This translates to the plastic straws as a primary component of the plastic waste with respect to mass and number being eliminated. It is projected that among the overwhelming 9million tones of the total plastic waste that finds its way into the ocean, the plastic straws make up 2,000 tones (Viera 180). Thus, accounting for approximately 4 percent of the overall plastic wastes present in the marine environment.

Alternative and Costs Of Products That Can Be Used Instead Of Plastic Straws

The monopoly enjoyed by the plastic straw companies makes it difficult for other types of straws to gain relevance in the market. However, there exist several alternatives to plastic straws that are less harmful to the environment. For instance, the edible straws provide a quick means of disposal by merely eating them after a drink. This type of straw was recently developed on Kickstarter (Caverly, 200). Nonetheless, the straws are mainly composed of edible and flavored biodegradable materials like the banana peels. However, the production of this kind of straw is highly expensive, meaning the consumers will have to purchase it at higher prices than the plastic straws.

Furthermore, the paper straw is another alternative to plastic straws. The paper straw is primarily made up of renewable and biodegradable materials (Viera 179). As such, the paper straws do not pose any direct threat to the environment if they are carelessly disposed of since they do not decompose to produce toxic chemicals like plastic straws. Also, the straws are relatively durable as they can last for about three hours in a cold drink. A plastic straw typically costs about $0.005, but the paper straw is expected to cost much more (Kessler 15).

Nonetheless, the concept of the bamboo straw is fast developing to replace the plastic straws. The straws are relatively durable and environmentally friendly as they are composed of the Asian wonder grass that can quickly decompose to provide more useful nutrients to the environment (Viera 177). Moreover, the straws can be put into other productive use after they are disposed of. However, the major drawback of developing this kind of straw is the high cost incurred, especially in the acquisition of natural materials, making them more expensive than the plastic ones.

Category of People Who Will Be Affected By the Ban of Plastic Straws

The ban on plastic straws will lead to both social and economic effects. As such, the ban on plastic straws will inevitably affect different groups of people in society (Kessler 20). The first category of people that will be significantly affected by the ban includes the individuals who run small businesses. This is mainly because the plastic straws are cheaper and therefore mean the company's operating cost is relatively low (Mosquera 5). Banning of the plastic straws will result in the owners of the businesses resorting to more expensive alternatives, which is inconvenient to the running of the business. The other category is the disabled individuals who depend on the plastic straws to properly take their drinks due to difficulty in either picking or holding the cups and bottles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several conflicting opinions on the ban of plastic straws. However, because various groups of people depend on plastic straws for both economic and social purposes, the ban should not be implemented. Instead, there should be regulations that limit the use of plastic straws such as business owners, only giving straws to customers on request.

Works Cited

Caverly, Isaac T. "Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Straw to Drink: How the Americans with Disabilities Act Serves as a Limitation on Plastic Straw Bans." Iowa L. Rev. 105 (2019). https://heinonline.org/

Kessler, Duncan JJ. "Plastic Straw Bans Can Run Afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Am. UL Rev. F. 69 (2019). https://heinonline.org/Mosquera, Marcela Romero. "Banning Plastic Straws: The Beginning of the War against Plastics." Earth Jurisprudence & Envtl. Just. J. 9 (2019).https://heinonline.org/

Viera, João SC, et al. "On replacing single-use plastic with so-called biodegradable ones: The case with straws." Environmental Science & Policy 106 (2020): 177-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.02.007