In 2015, a video of marine biologists removing a plastic straw from the nostril of a sea turtle went viral on online platforms globally (Sea Turtle Biologist, 2015). The video rekindled the discussion on the adverse environmental impact brought about by plastics particularly to the marine environment. The use of plastic started in the 19th century following the invention of celluloid. By 1960s and 70’s the single-use plastics like bags and straws were being considered cheap, convenient, and more ubiquitous as compared to their paper counterparts. Presently, plastic straws are more prevalent and can be found almost at all food vendors. Consequently, millions of straws are being thrown out every day globally. Since plastic does not decompose quickly, when it becomes waste it normally end up in landfills or wash into ocean. World Economic Forum for instance estimates the existence of about 150 million tons of plastics in the ocean and continue to increase (World Economic Forum, 2016). The impact of plastic waste is killing of marine life and release of toxic wastes which can affect human health. Therefore, Vancouver BC move to ban Plastic straws is a great movement towards reducing pollution and its effect on humans and marine life.
The ban on plastic straw by Vancouver BC and other cities throughout out the world is major win for the environment. Environmentalists around the globe have been advocating for bans for straws and other single-use plastics due to their impact on the environment (Court, 2018) . It has been established that plastic straws are among the major causes of the large amount of waste that eventually ends up in the oceans. As espoused by Gibbens (2018), an estimated 8.3 billion of plastic straws have littered beaches globally. In the United States, plastic straws have been attributed to 7 percent of the country’s total waste. Hence, through legislations to reduce eliminate plastic straws huge environmental gains can be made.
Furthermore, adverse environmental impact at seas and oceans are hugely contributed by plastic particularly those used for single use such as straws. According to Bergmann, Gutow, and Klages, (2015), an estimated 80 to 90 percent of marine debris is composed of plastic. Since, plastic is not a decomposable substance, when in the water bodies, it can take up to 1000 years to break down. Hence failure to take appropriate action at present time can lead to even worse consequences in the years to come. Worm et al. (2017) estimates that if the current trend continues, in three decades there will be more plastics in the ocean as compared to fish. Hence, measures need to start being taken to reduce the amounts of plastics that finds their ways to the oceans. Plastic straws have been found as among top ten items found during beach cleanups (Worm et al. 2017). The straws ends up in the oceans through activities like littering, being blown out of trash cans as well as being left on beaches. Hence, banning them is a huge movement towards their elimination from the oceans.
Conversely, plastic materials damped into the sea and oceans does not only affect marine life but also human health. When marine animals ingest these components, the chemicals stay in their bodies are never release. Such waste found their way to the humans in the food chain. There are a number of ways in which these plastics are dangerous to humans. Direct toxicity as a result of plastic emanates from lead, cadmium, as well as mercury, which have been found in marine animals presenting a danger to the humans. Additionally, Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) contained in some plastics has been found to be toxic carcinogen (Li, Tse, " Fok, 2016). Additional toxins in plastics have been attributed to issues such as cancers, birth defects, immune system problems as well as childhood developmental issues. Therefore, by dumping straws and other plastics to the oceans, people end up polluting their bodies in an indirect way. Consequently, banning of straws help to preserve not only the marine environment but also the health of humans.
In addition, the move to ban straws will have a positive effect on other plastic wastes. The ban of plastic straws, can be interpreted as a movement towards ditching all other plastics with time. Already, other jurisdictions are banning other types of plastic such as plastics bags. Hence, the movement to ban straws may be a first step in eliminating other plastic wastes. The ban can lead to more measurable actions on the part of the consumers and producers as they realize the gravity of the issue. Researcher have established that doing one positive thing for the environment can kick start people into more actions with ecological friendliness in mind. However, caution must be taken to avoid negative effect. For instance there is a possibility that people will feel contented that they have done enough for the environment by the single action and hence making them reluctant to change other behaviors, in what is referred to as “single action bias” (Worm et al. 2017) Hence, to ensure the ban lead to more positive action of conserving the environment, it should be used as only a begging to more action. Vancouver BC and other cities around the world implementing ban on the use of straws should continue coming up with more measures to curb pollution of other plastics.
However, opponents of the ban on straws have argued that it may have an adverse impact on people living with disabilities. Some people are disabled in that their jaws are not strong enough to be able to drink without the use of straws while others are not able to use their hands to hold a cup in any way. Hence, by banning the use of plastic straws, their livelihoods will be affected as their ability to drink will be taken away. One way that has been recommended for dealing with this hurdle is giving the disabled an opt-out of the plastic straw ban. However, this has been seen as a step back from presumption of free society. Despite the genuine concern for the disabled use of straws, the adverse impact of these plastic to the environment warrant the search for an alternative. For instance, metal and paper straws can be manufactured for use by the disabled and other who would choose to use them.
In summary therefore, the move by Vancouver to be among the major towns in Canada to ban plastic straws will have a positive impact in dealing with pollution and its impacts. Straws are among the major waste that is washed into the oceans and seas affecting the marine life. Between 80 and 90 percent of all marine debris have been associated with plastic making its elimination a priority. Human being are also affected by such toxic waste through the food chain. Some of the adverse impacts to human include dangers such as cancers, birth defects, immune system problems as well as childhood developmental issues. Banning one-use plastics such as straws help in avoiding these complication. Despite the opponents arguing that banning straws can have a negative effect to people with disability, alternatives can be sought including metalling and paper straws.
References
Bergmann, M., Gutow, L., " Klages, M. (Eds.). (2015). Marine anthropogenic litter. Springer.
Court, E. (2018). Vancouver Confirms Plastic Straw Ban. Plant Based News. Retrieved from https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/vancouver-confirms-plastic-straw-ban
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Gibbens, S. (2018). A Brief History of How Plastic Straws Took Over the World. National Geographic.
Li, W. C., Tse, H. F., " Fok, L. (2016). Plastic waste in the marine environment: A review of sources, occurrence and effects. Science of the Total Environment, 566, 333-349.
Sea Turtle Biologist (2015). Sea Turtle With Straw Up Its Nostril - "No" To Plastic Straws. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw
on 23rd November, 2018.
World Economic Forum. (2016). The New Plastics Economy Rethinking the future of plastics. Retrieved from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf
on 23rd November, 2018.
Worm, B., Lotze, H. K., Jubinville, I., Wilcox, C., " Jambeck, J. (2017). Plastic as a persistent marine pollutant. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 42.
