No more slurping through plastic straws in San Francisco - Sensationalist Headlines

I didn't vote for Donald Trump in 2016 so I'm a fair bit ahead of you regarding the environment.

Supporters of Personal Responsibility™ except when it applies to them

You will create more mess that way almost without a doubt create a future problem with a poorly thought out and implemented solution. this is that.

Google search, I didn't bring it in earlier because I thought it would be accepted as common knowledge. I really didn't expect you to stoop low enough to demand specific articles on something that everyone fucking knows Environmental Impact of Plastic Straws (2018 Facts & Statistics)

Why not scoop it out with your hands and slurp it down.

Just drink it normally with your lips? You could even provide a tea/dessert spoon if it's really too thick.

Taking the enviroment into consideration in the disposable sector is such a huge grey factor. I work in the industry myself so I get some 'inside info' here and there. As for the straws, companies are making alternatives that are: Paper (these get coated) Bamboo/palm leaves (starting to be very popular materials) Edible (stays sturdy for about 80 minutes) The disposavle sector is really really busy trying to be more green, but some laws are definitly not always better for the enviroment. Take plastic bags: shopkeepers are legally obliged to ask money for plastic bags. So, everyone is moving to paper bags. But let me show you some basic math: 1 pallet of plastic bags: 6x10 boxes of 2000 bags in a box, So 120000 bags on a pallet. 1 pallet of paper bags: 6x6 boxes of 250 bags in a box, So 9000 bags on a pallet. Taking manufacturing/transport into consideration the paper bags have way more impact on the enviroment than plastic does. Factor in the plastic bags here are recyclable and the whole "no more plastic bags to save the enviroment" turns entirely moot, and, in reality, were making things way worse with paper. Don't get me wrong, we collectively need to change our ways, but completely rejecting plastic is not the awnser. Were even busy making biologically made, biodegradable plastics nowadays.

We're fucked anyway when it comes to plastic, disposables are nothing compared to the amount we use in other applications such as consumer products, clothes, vehicles, etc. What needs to be done is proper recycling, not shipping it off to countries like China where it ends up entering the water, banning disposables is just a feel good measure that will have practically zero long term impact. Manufacturers also need to be forced to use biodegradable plastics even if it costs more (it does), although this isn't a complete fix as some plastics like polycarbonate and PTFE have no suitable replacement. I'm also quite skeptical that the replacements will be any better, coated paper generally can't be recycled and depending on the coating may not even biodegrade, as far as I'm aware there are no requirements on what coatings they have to use so in theory it could be just as bad for the environment as plastic.

Are you from SanFran by any chance???

My country is so small we could dump all of our waste in the ocean and globally the difference would be marginal. Does that mean it would be an okay thing to do? I don't think so. We force ourselves to live by minimizing environmental impact, so the solutions for recycling and sustainable growth we come up with can be utilized everywhere, causing a tangible global impact. Because pollution impacts everyone, nobody is without responsibility in preventing it in whatever fashion.

Some people use straws because they don't trust the less-than-minimum-wage dishwasher to clean a glass effectively

https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/58149/807c0539-aa56-4190-a357-0def5f6dbb2a/image.png

I suppose people should use re-usable bags instead. Paper bags kind of suck IMO

Well my argument wasn't ever a competition to see who has done more for the environment. Nor do I understand why you care about the Trump Administration when this is something local and state governments have control over with implementing bans and enforcing them. As for the post on page 2; I am not really demanding you do anything. I am pointing out that being a libertarian in this case wouldn't change pretty much anything, and I think people can see my numbers bear truth.

This is such a terrible argument

Guys, guys, guys Hold up Listen I have the perfect solution to plastic straws. Instead of throwing them on the ground or in the trash Burn them Problem solved, no more plastic straws littering up the oceans or landfills. I'll take my Nobel Prize now.

wow you sound pompous.

I don't really care that they're banning plastic straws; we'll adapt and everyone's lives will move on. I do care that they're jumping on this relatively ineffectual bandwagon when they could be making way more important moves for preserving the environment.

Right? Like, what about the plastic can holders for beers and sodas? Those are ACTUALLY threatening to wildlife in the oceans. Why aren't those being targeted like this, but plastic straws are? There are companies that have already made biodegradable versions of the can holders that can even be food for ocean wildlife and it reduces waste from beer brewing significantly, but instead of bringing awareness to that and funding that, we're freaking out over straws.

It's possible to advocate for both fixing straws and fixing can holders, at the same time.

Except we're not. I haven't heard anything about that awesome spent grain can holders project since the first murmurs about it and now suddenly everyone is up in arms over what boils down to a feel-good response to our oceans being filled with plastic debris.

Then how about complaining about this, and putting out your energy to STOP this, help something else

You kinda answered your own question there. Can holders aren't as big a focus now as awareness was raised about them years ago, and companies found safer alternative materials. Continuing to raise awareness has diminishing returns in that area now as that technology is in use, so we should move on to other single use plastics to try and mitigate the impact of those next.

I don't know call it a hunch but I got a feeling you would absolutely bitch about it if they banned all plastic waste in one go and not just straws.

I think people need to read this more. Yes, most plastic in the ocean is coming from Africa and Asia, but we are able to change our consumption habits and set the example for the rest of the world. The western world may only make a small dent in reducing single use plastic waste, but it's a movement towards a better and cleaner world.

I don't see any safer alternative materials or new technology in use in regards to can holders. It's still those super strong plastic ring thingies on cans and bottles.

I've alluded to this shocking fact in this thread already but it bears repeating now: people can do more than one thing at a time. Your density in consistently ignoring that fact would make a blackhole blush

They have new ones up here at least. Theyre black solid oils plastic caps that cover the top of the beer. They’re bulkier but there is no way an animal is getting stuck in this thing. But I overall agree that this is a feel good initiative that will lead to a large increase in waste. A lot of America’s recycling goes to China to be stored in dumps. That isn’t recycling, and in all honesty many issues could be avoided if poor regulations had never been created.

I think I've seen those maybe once or twice. It's really rare, and honestly it seems like a sideways step not any sort of progress... Like you said an animal isn't getting stuck, but it's using MORE plastic which is still not going to biodegrade.

I'm in a resort town on vacation and we got paper straws at dinner. They're alright, got a little soggy after a half hour or so. If everybody bans them somebody will come up with something better.