ELi5: How did plastic straws specifically become targeted for eco-friendly banning, but similar disposables like plastic forks and spoons didn’t?
In: Culture
A couple of videos of sea creatures getting harmed by plastic straws went viral (e.g. there’s one of volunteers trying to pull out a plastic straw out of a sea turtle’s nose with pliers) and that got people so engaged that govs ended up taking action against straws.
The problem of course is that it’s very easy to ban straws, but also very ineffective as a eco-friendly measure, and arguably it’s actually harmful to society as a whole. Lemme explain.
Most people who use plastic straws now either use reusable straws made of metal or glass. Those are probably about as good for the environment as tote bags, i.e. not at all. I haven’t heard of any studies done on the efficiency of reusable straws, but in the case of tote bags, you’d actually have to reuse them literally thousands of times (which equates to multiple life times of usage) before they start being worth the upfront environmental cost. Cotton production requires a lot of energy (which mostly still comes from non-renewable sources) and tons of water, so disposable plastic bags actually end up being way better for the environment (as long as they don’t end up in the sea after being used). So unless you’re using reusable bags made from recycled plastic, you’re actually harming the environment by not using disposable ones.
Secondly, most people are able-bodied, so they probably can go without a straw, or even with a shitty “eco-friendly” disposable straw. But not all people can, and a lot of disabled people rely on disposable straws and their many advantages over their newer “eco-friendly” alternatives to quench their thirst. I’d suggest watching this video (https://youtu.be/3XGIxUXDWqw) about why alternative straws are inferior to disposable ones.
ELi5 – When I was growing up, everything was glass. Why can’t we shift back to that?
Someone pulled a plastic straw out of a turtle’s cloaca. The video went viral, and thus straws became the enemy. The problem is that people aren’t equally outraged by other plastic debris, so the whole movement is a little lopsided.
Edit: [Heres a podcast by Science Vs on the subject](https://gimletmedia.com/amp/shows/science-vs/94hwzr)
The picture of the straw up the turtle’s nose just highlights how much damage they can do to marine life, more than other types of single use plastics.
The reason plastic straws are the target is that they’re so difficult to recycle because of the size and malleability, so they often slip past the machines. Your point about other cutlery is a good one, and the EU, for example is trying to ban them as well as plastic straws. It won’t have a large effect on reducing total plastic waste, but it would be a good place to start before moving onto more items, particularly if you’re able to get the really big polluters in Asia on board. Alsoit could make a significant difference in helping certain marine life, more than if you banned spoons or forks.
The real problem with banning plastic straws is the problems it would cause people with limited ability to use their arms. For many they’re the only way to drink out of a cup in a dignified manner.
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Feel-good policies probably pushed by the petrochemical industry to give the impression that real change is taking place while big business continues to pollute and destroy the environment under the public radar.
Plastic forks and spoons have a greater justifiable need whereas straws are more easily done without
Plastic forks and spoons have a greater justifiable need whereas straws are more easily done without
Because given the option, say you’re at a restaurant or at home, most people won’t use plastic cutlery. But most people in those same situations would use plastic straws.
Its the stupidest thing. Yea ban shops from using them… now I have to watch my straw deteriorate and hurry my drink because a restaurant wants to be woke. The trash is controlled at a restaurant, those bought at a shop not. Even then, environmental me cannot control dont give a sh!t you and your friends, its up to each and all of us. Yes, believe it or not, corporations and factories consist out of people. Who knew!?
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