Are plastic straws necessary? Plastic straws trace origin in 1888 when Marvin Stone, a Washington resident, wrapped a paper around a pencil and glued it together to form a straw. From there, Stone’s invention was improved. Plastic straws are now found everywhere and are mostly discarded on land or in water sources. Like other plastics, they are non-biodegradable. They, therefore, take many years to disintegrate. However, plastic straws can have adverse effects on the environment. With this in mind, action needs to be taken to control environmental pollution.
One step that can be made is replacing plastic straws with other types of straws such as bamboo and glass straws. Also, anti-straw campaigns can be started to reduce the use of plastic straws. Currently, numerous anti-straw campaigns are springing up across the globe (Suzuki " Hanington, 2017). Alternatively, people can opt to consume beverages without using straws, as while as the government enacting policies to ban them entirely. In respect to this, this essay supports the statement that plastic straws should be banned in Canada. It will achieve this by discussing how plastic straws affect aquatic life and how their adverse effects outweigh the general benefits. Also, it will depict that the ban of plastic straws in Canada will help to protect the environment.
Plastic straws ought to be banned to protect aquatic life in Canada. Canada is bordered by three oceans, the Pacific, Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. Plastic straws that are discarded in oceans cause water pollution which endangers marine biodiversity. Some marine life such as turtles swallow plastic straws which block their breathing systems, and eventually, it can be fatal. Seabirds in Canada will be protected from chocking from these plastic straws once they are banned from the country. According to Haigh (2018), marine life has a 50% per cent chance of survival after ingesting plastic. For example, a total of eight million metric tons of plastic which end up in the ocean, plastic straws contribute to this tonnage to some extent. Therefore, if plastic straws are banned in Canada, the number of non-bio gradable material disposed of in oceans will reduce. In the process, it will ensure that biodiversity and beauty of the aquatic life will be protected.
The negative effects of plastic straws on the environment outweigh their general benefit. Plastic straws are non-biodegradable and non- recyclable. Usually, plastic straws are used once before they are discarded. They are hence an example of single-use plastics. (Hugh, 2017). The only benefit of plastic straws is that they are used to take drinks. However, their harmful effects of are vast. For instance, they cause water and land pollution. The fact that plastic straws are not biodegradable and non-recyclable increases their number on land and in water sources. Consequently, discarded plastic straws become an eyesore. Also, they harm aquatic and terrestrial animals. Ideally, when these animals consume plastic straws, they clog their systems which may end up killing them. In light of this, plastic straws should be banned in Canada since their adverse effects on the environment outweigh their benefits.
Banning plastic straws in Canada will protect the environment on its own. However, it may be argued out that banning plastic straws in Canada will not protect the environment on its own. “Avoiding plastic would not save the ocean or the world on its own” (Suzuki " Hanington, 2017). If alternatives of plastic straws were to be used, they would still have adverse effects on the environment if discarded wrongly. For instance, dumping glass straws on land would even destroy the beauty of biodiversity. Also, banning plastic straw in Canada will not prevent other pollutants from affecting the environment. On the contrary, the plastic straws in Canada will reduce the loss of aquatic biodiversity. Also, it will help in reducing the number of plastics in the oceans. In respect to this, it is incorrect to conclude that banning plastic straws in Canada will not protect the environment on its own.
To conclude, from the discussion above, it is evident that plastic straws should be banned in Canada to protect aquatic life. A plastic straw is a single-use type of plastic. It can therefore not be recycled. As a result, it has adverse effects on the environment. Canada has three oceans that need to be protected against plastic straws, the Pacific, Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. These straws are swallowed by marine life such as turtles and seabirds which may kill them. Due to their harmful effects on the environment, it is evident that they outweigh their benefits. However, it is illogical to conclude that banning plastic straws in Canada will not protect the environment on its own. When plastic straws are banned in Canada, small changes will be noted in the environment such as reducing the number of plastics in oceans.
Outline
Introduction:
This section elaborates a brief background of plastic straws
Thesis statement: This paragraph outlines the thesis statement to be justified in the discussion. “plastic straws should be banned in Canada. It will achieve this by discussing how plastic straws affect aquatic life and how the negative effects of plastic straws outweigh the general benefit of plastic straws. Also, it will depict that the ban of plastic straws in Canada will help to protect the environment”.
Body
Paragraph one: Plastic straws ought to be banned to protect aquatic life in Canada
Support one: Marine life has a 50% percent chance of survival after ingesting plastic.
Support two: A total of eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean. Plastic straws contribute to this tonnage.
Concluding statement: If plastic straws are banned in Canada, the number of plastic in the oceans will reduce. In the process, it will ensure that the aquatic life in the oceans is protected.
Paragraph two:
The negative effects of plastic straws on the environment outweigh their general benefit.
Support one: Plastic straws are a particularly nasty form of plastic. They break down to small pieces known as microplastics which are harmful to aquatic life.
Support two:
Plastic straws harm aquatic and land animals. When these animals consume plastic straws, they clog their systems which may end up killing them.
Concluding statement: Plastic straws should be banned in Canada since their adverse effects on the environment outweigh their benefits.
Paragraph three: Banning plastic straws in Canada will protect the environment on its own.
Counterargument:
Banning plastic straws in Canada will not protect the environment on its own.
Rebuttal:
Banning plastic straws in Canada will bring small changes in the environment. It will hence make a significant difference.
Concluding statement: It is incorrect to conclude that banning plastic straws in Canada will not protect the environment on its own.
Conclusion: When plastic straws are banned in Canada, positive changes will be noted in the environment. For instance, it will help reduce the number of plastics in oceans.
References
Haigh, P. (2018). Why are plastic straws so bad for the environment? | Metro News. Retrieved from https://metro.co.uk/2018/02/23/plastic-straws-bad-environment-7336541/
Hugh. (2018). Environmental Impact of Plastic Straws (2018 Facts " Statistics). Retrieved from https://get-green-now.com/environmental-impact-plastic-straws/
Parker, L. (2018). Straw Wars: The Fight to Rid the Oceans of Discarded Plastic. Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/plastic-straws-ocean-trash-environment/
Suzuki, D., " Hanington, I. (2017). Plastic straws suck - David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved from https://davidsuzuki.org/story/plastic-straws-suck/
