Plastic straws should be banned in Kenya

  

Date Posted: 10/6/2018 5:14:47 AM

Posted By: Milnel  Membership Level: Silver  Total Points: 367

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Plastic straws should be banned in Kenya

One of the major challenges facing different states today includes environmental pollution. The best strategies for finding solution to these problems begin with the identification of causes. Hundreds of plastic items including food containers, balloons, straws, and cutlery have made their way to the environment. A research study was conducted with an aim of ranking plastic pollutants. Among all the items that were considered, the plastic straws were found to be the most harmful to the marine life. Therefore, various counties in Kenya including Mombasa have started targeting the elimination of plastic straws. The decision to ban the use of these items is based on three arguments:

Firstly, the plastic straws are short-lived tools which cannot be recycled for other uses. Secondly, these items do not decompose easily. Research studies reveal that though plastic materials can break down into smaller pieces, they cannot decompose completely. Lastly, the plastic straws are discarded more often to the environment yet they are not so essential. As a result, the materials release toxic substances which pollute the air and water bodies. The adverse effects of the plastic straws justify Kenya’s plan to ban their usage. The biggest threat to the environmental pollution is the plastic straws because more than 500 million are disposed of daily. Most beverages including a glass of water are served with plastic straws. The straws are not basic needs for human's existence yet the damage to the environment is so severe, in terms of water, air, and land pollution. The small size of the straws makes them look insignificant. However, the frequent use of these products has created huge problems to the environment. The marine lives experience the adverse effects of plastic straws because they form the largest part of the ocean trash. Plastic straws

have been designed to be used only once. Since the products cannot be recycled, they are discarded to the environment more often. The worst part is that the plastics take decades to decompose. As a result, marine life is adversely affected and endangered. Therefore, Kenya can reduce the harmful impacts by putting measures to ban plastic straws. The state should also provide alternative ways of taking drinks.

Why Plastic Straws Should be Banned

Firstly, the straws are single-use items. The materials used to make plastics do not allow them to be recycled. Most programs that deal with recycling used items do not allow objects made of polypropylene. As a result, the plastics are used only once and then disposed into the environment. The items which are dropped into the garbage end up flowing into rivers and oceans. The wastes from plastic straws leach very toxic chemicals which in turn harm marine life. Some animals also consume these items and later die thus endangering some species of marine creatures.

Secondly, plastic straws should be banned because they never break down easily. Naturally, the materials which are discarded into the environment can break down to allow microorganisms to digest them. However, plastic materials may take more than ten decades to start decomposing. Research shows that plastic straws can break into smaller particles after a long period of time, but it can never degrade completely. As a result, those particles cause the soil to become infertile thereby hindering agricultural production.

Lastly, plastic straws are not an essential part of humans' life yet they are treated as so. The straws are discarded more often to the surroundings. Many people have relied on the use of these products even when taking a glass of water. People consider the straws for leisure without considering the long-term effects. Therefore, since some other means can be invented to replace the plastic straws, there is no need of using disposable items which are unfriendly to the environment. Research studies indicate that more than 500 million straws are released to the environment daily thus causing a lot of waste.

Counterargument

A few researchers do not agree that plastic straws should be banned on the basis that they are not essential. According to these scholars, the straws are critical in enhancing hygiene. Some people believe that the cups or containers used to store beverages are not up to standard. Therefore, such individuals tend to avoid the germs by preventing lips contact with the vessels. As a result, most of them will request for straws even when just taking water. However, most states have issued regulations which require all firms to observe high hygiene standards. Therefore, health issues have been taken care of by the state. More so, if mouth contact must be avoided, alternative methods like combustible straws can be used. Harmful plastics should be avoided at all costs.

Conclusion

Environmental pollution has become a major threat to many states. Plastic items, especially the straws are the major cause of water, air, and land pollution. The products are widely used and discarded more often yet they are not essential. Kenya should consider banning the use of plastic straws because they are not easily recycled, neither can they decompose. Marine life is put at risk of being extinguished. Some plastics hurt the sea animals physically. At times, these materials release toxic chemicals which intoxicate both air and water. Agricultural production is also hampered by the accumulation of plastic wastes which cannot decompose. Although other people argue that straws enhance hygiene, alternative measures are available to deal with health issues. Therefore, plastic straws should be faced out completely.

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