Drinking straws

How Straws are Destroying the Environment

Guest post by Emma Metson*

In the US alone, 500 million straws are used every day. The United Nations estimates that the world population will reach 9.2 billion by 2050. The amount of waste produced will be huge if people continue to discard single-use plastic at current rates so that, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Single-use plastics are the scourge of the earth as they never fully degrade. That means they don’t biodegrade, they simply break down into smaller pieces and end up in every part of the food chain. During the degrading process, harmful chemicals and toxins are released which is bad news for the environment.

  • Most straws are made from a petroleum-based plastic called polypropylene. For straws to be made, extraction of fossil fuels is required. The production of 1000 kilograms of polypropylene releases 3,530 kilograms of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases.
  • Polypropylene, which was thought to be BPA-free, has been found to still contain these synthetic estrogens.
  • 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When broken down into very small pieces, ‘microplastics’ become a threat to marine life including fish.
  • Straws and stirrers ranked as the 8th most likely item of rubbish to be found in the ocean.
  • Due to their small size, straws are often mistaken as food by animals — causing death and suffocation.

Although plastic straws are mostly made out of polypropylene which is something that can be recycled, they aren’t accepted by most curbside recycling programs because they’re too lightweight to make it through the mechanical recycling sorter.

What happens instead is that they drop through sorting screens and are mixed up with other materials that are too small to separate. This leads to either contamination of recycling loads or plastic straws being disposed of as garbage.

 

Plastic straws are one of the most common things you’ll see not only in the ocean but in landfills as well. Plastics release methane as they decompose in landfills. Methane is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming and climate change. Methane doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide does. However, its effects on climate are more severe because of how effective it is in absorbing heat. In the first two decades after its release, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

 

The road to making everyone’s lives ‘straw-free’ is far from easy. However, you can start with the following tips:

  • Compostable straws are a slightly better alternative than regular plastic drinking straws. They need to be properly decomposed of in a composting facility. Otherwise, they’re no better than their plastic counterparts.
  • Use reusable straws instead. You can get ones made of glass, stainless steel, or bamboo.
  • Educate your friends and family members about the dangerous effects that straws have on the environment. Post on. social media using the hastag #stop sucking and find more information here.
  • Start your own #stopsucking challenge to help get the word out. You can create your own URL here.

*Emma is a part-time property developer and blogger. She is passionate about home improvements; especially environmentally friendly changes that can make your home and the world a healthier place. Check out her blog, Fixtures and Flowers or follow her on Twitter

About

Nikki is an author and writer specializing in green living ideas and tips, adventure travel, upcycling, and all things eco-friendly. She's traveled the globe, swum with sharks and been bitten by a lion (fact). She lives in a tiny town with a fat cat and a very bad dog.

Check out our Books!

2 thoughts on “How Straws are Destroying the Environment

  1. Georgepvw

    Family provider expertise and skilled aspirations are extremely engaging to single Ukrainian ladies. ● Showcase your supplier traits and ambition. These outstanding females are certainly open to American males who can appreciate their steadfast family values whereas encouraging their trendy development. Dating someone from a distinct cultural background generally is a rewarding and enriching expertise, offering a window into new perspectives and traditions. Both of you may have been introduced up in several cultures, with totally different traditions and customs, so you will have to face problems with misunderstanding, and acceptance of those differences, finding a compromise. Finding your excellent match has by no means been easier with the UkraineDate Android app. They wear fashionable clothes and perfect make-up, have superb hair and go to the gym. The result’s that the ladies understand how to make sure lovely glowing skin, beautiful makeup, and the very best outfits. You’ll by no means know what you possibly can achieve unless you attempt!

    An excellent joke can provide help to break the ice too. She simply needs to be taught more about you to see whether or not you meet her standards as an excellent lengthy-time period partner. Will you join for free to doubtlessly meet the girl of your dreams? However they are saying that Ukrainians are stunning so the possibility of your mates envying you and also you having the woman of most mens dreams is actually a possibility. Now imagine how lengthy she’s going to want if you go to your mates birthday social gathering or an essential meeting at work together with her? Readiness for exhausting work. Its swiping feature revolutionized online dating, so you need to be accustomed to the principle of chatting with individuals who like you again. It could take a Ukrainian lady a while to let people into her inside circle, however as soon as it occurs, she’s going to protect them in any respect prices. What’s the key to profitable [url=https://charmingdate-com.tumblr.com/]charmdate[/url] dating with a Slavic girl and how to tug Ukrainian ladies for marriage?

    Every girl is completely different in character and persona, and has distinctive options and needs, so don’t suppose every lady needs to be handled the identical method. Going for a walk in the park is best method to start out off and build rapport. Although it can be difficult to make her snigger by way of online communication, attempt your finest. If you’re lucky and she’s keen on you, you’ll be able to try to kiss her. She will simply think you’re try to get shut and are up to something. In case you are attracted to single Ukrainian girls, try this Russian and Ukrainian dating site. Many Ukraine single ladies break up with their Ukrainian boyfriends due to their rudeness and chilly-heartedness, so don’t make the same mistake they’re making. Most ladies prefer when the man takes the initiative in asking for dates, texting first, making reservations, bringing flowers, and guiding your interactions based mostly on her consolation stage. This trait extends to their personal lives, where they approach relationships with the identical degree of commitment and accountability. Learning a new language could be challenging, however with the right approach and sources, you can make significant progress.

    One can discover out about dating Ukrainian women from Brides of Ukraine, Meeting-Russian Women, and Dating Ukraine Women online courting sites. Demonstrate your trust to a Ukrainian individual you’re courting. So, a person ought to have many hobbies and attention-grabbing experiences to have the flexibility to maintain a sexy dialog. So, I’d advise you to ask him questions. Ukrainian girls are amongst these in the world who like males who present their intelligence. When Ukrainian prospects will take a look at your profile, some will go for a man who loves binge-watching seasons whereas others might love the sporty outgoing bungee jumper. In case you are searching for the right woman to spend the remainder of your life with, a Ukrainian lady is one you should consider. Ukrainian ladies on the lookout for men love it when males have a great sense of humor. There is no such thing as a explanation as to why Ukrainians are (or are considered to be) beautiful however part of the reason being the fact that they spend plenty of time looking after themselves. That’s why many individuals cook it as soon as but in large parts and then eat it for several days after.

  2. Tsevdl

    Christian Cafe will keep your electronic mail non-public, so no one on the relationship site can see it. The username is so you’ll be anonymous on the positioning (don’t use your real full identify on relationship websites). After you click on on the hyperlink, fill out your electronic mail and username and you’re on your solution to discover online relationship with a trusted site run by actual Christians. The first issues Christian Cafe asks you to fill out if you sign up for your 10 free days are: Your e mail, and your username. Since you might not know if somebody is a nominal Christian or not upon first contact, I recommend that you just do as I did, e mail a link to a Gospel presentation to each man you come into contact with on a relationship site. We did, and as he dated different ladies he referred to as me for sisterly recommendation. If you’re not concerned about them, give them recommendation on find out how to pursue different girls, or even introduce them with godly, single ladies you recognize.

    As long as they’re first rate and deal with you respectfully, encourage them of their ministry, encourage them to pursue their dreams, talk about what you be taught from the Bible with them, pray for them. While you talk about the Gospel with them you’ll shortly discover out if they’re not saved. “Single people usually inform me that they have a specific ‘type.’ They’re assured they know what they want – they simply need help finding that particular person,” says Ury. But it’s not the most effective setting to really to get to know them. Before, Christian singles used to rely on the social actions or on the cultural points to meet new singles and find the very best match for his or her life. Those two commands are to shape our response to life. Whilst you shouldn’t be obsessive and respond to every message in two seconds, don’t take perpetually. My recommendation for midlife relationship is to take your time.

    However, as writing some other e mail, even the online courting e mail must comply with the basic guidelines. I additionally had a good friend who balked at getting to know a man long-distance, although regionally there was no one who was a prospect for her. Many Christian men who are online have been rejected countless instances by ladies, and never within the nicest ways either. I additionally left the whole lot behind to be with my beloved husband, and it was price it a billion times over. By taking part in with them, they will be enticed to win you over. Also keep in thoughts to follow a few essential courting security guidelines with a view to take advantage of your over 60 dating scene. Mention anything good you see in them, and provides them any advice you will have about relationship women. All the seduction abilities in the world will not do you any good in the event you keep on going to the identical locations that you simply already know lack the kind of women that you want to date. Email them a sound Gospel presentation that you copied from a ministry you belief, or send them a hyperlink to a great Gospel presentation from a ministry Blog or a Youtube video.

    You are able to do each at the same time, although most singles ministry mistakenly educate that you can’t pursue God and other objectives (comparable to seek for The One) at the identical time. While you can’t control the timing of discovering the right companion, you’ll be able to control the method. They may present you a mailbox proper on the site to trade messages with members. And we haven’t addressed the most important drawback of them all: that it’s merely inconceivable to estimate the entire number of viable relationship options N. If I imagine myself spending most of my time chunking codes and writing Medium article about dating in 20 years, how vibrant my social life will be? Christian on-line dating has been added as the most important platform for a number of relationship websites on-line. Most decent, godly males who get rejected by women don’t receive praises, prayers, encouragements, dating [url=https://www.facebook.com/latamdatepage/]latamdate scam[/url] tips, and care packages from them. Well, you aren’t the only Christian man on this earth who bears the precise notion.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *