The US government is eschewing paper straws and going back to plastic. So why are the plastic variety restricted in many countries around the world in the first place?
I remember my physics teacher - a most rational man - telling us that complaining about burning plastic waste was stupid. Of all the oil extracted from the ground, only a small fraction is turned into plastic. All the rest, the vast majority, is burned as fuel. Burning the rest, too, does not really make a difference. Heck, it could even be better for the environment, as trash incinerator facilities (at least here) have so strong legal requirements for filtering their output that the 90%+ of normal burners like cars, ships, trains, and central heatings just can’t compete.
Ban all single–use plastic
Use paper straws, still wrap them in plastic. Mission failed successfully.
So. Plastic straws wouldn’t end up in the ocean if we didn’t have garbage islands and garbage barges (the ones over by New York and New Jersey and wherever else they are)
The focus on plastic straws is stupid imo.
It’s a distraction from the root of the problem.
The trash islands are the big problem that needs addressed.
