Why Plastic Straws are Ruining our Environment

We may never get the chance to explore the last frontier: the ocean. Every year eight million tons of plastic waste makes its way into our ocean. This waste wreaks havoc on the oceans wildlife and ecosystems.

Of all the different kinds of plastics that contribute to this growing environmental crisis, plastic drinking straws are particularly insidious. This is due to the fact that they are smaller in size and often never make it to recycling facilities. Straws are also too small to be sorted in these facilities and end up slipping through the cracks of sorting machines.

Most people who use straws do not need them in order to consume liquids and do not understand the need to dispose of them properly. One only has to take a stroll on one of the beaches across the country and see the effect straws have had. They slip out of trash cans and drinks worldwide and end up floating through storm drains and right into the ocean.

In 2015 a video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck up its nose went viral. Marine biologists seen in the video, were attempting to dislodge the straw from the animal. The poor little creature was clearly in a great deal of pain and distress. This viral video was one of the catalysts that began an environmental movement to begin to ban single use plastics.

So far 5 different states have a pending ban on plastic straws. Some individual businesses and cities have also started to take part in this initiative. Some may ask why plastic straws? They seem harmless enough, but take one look at that video of the sea turtle and you will not feel the need to ask why.

Additionally, plastic straws may also be a threat to human health as well as marine and aquatic health. Fish and sea animals accidentally consume plastic straws all the time because they never actually break down. Straws may break up into pieces due to wear and tear, but they then turn into microplastics that stick around in our ocean. When fish ingest these microplastics the chemicals leach into the fish. We then catch the fish and consume them ourselves and end up also ingesting the microplastics.

Obviously, a change is needed and a ban on plastic straws seems like a step in the right direction. However, that does not mean we have to say goodbye to straws altogether. There are safe alternatives to plastic straws already in existence. Paper straws are the safest and most convenient alternative available right now. Paper can break down in water and also a very easily recycled material.

Next time you are given the choice just say NO to plastic straws.