Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by mrpg on Wednesday July 04 2018, @12:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the pollution dept.

[...] "Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world's oceans, and I'm proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban," Mami Hara, the general manager of Seattle Public Utilities, told KOMO News.

The National Park Service estimates 500 million straws are used by Americans each day.

The Seattle ban actually began with an ordinance prohibiting one-time-use food service items in 2008, but the city has allowed exemptions on certain items every year since. For example, Styrofoam food packaging was banned in 2009, according to the Seattle Times. But because of the market, plastic utensils and straws have been exempted in Seattle's ban until now, the newspaper reported.

Seattle bans plastic straws, utensils, becoming first major US city to do so


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 04 2018, @12:39PM (3 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 04 2018, @12:39PM (#702515) Journal

    Too much plastic, in too many places where it doesn't belong, including our oceans. But, banning plastic is bad?

    What part of "no noticeable effect" did you miss?

    As an "abilist", I suggest that if you cannot drink from a cup, then you should carry your own reusable straw with you when dining out.

    Or the restaurant could provide those straws as they do now. After all, they know we'll need them. Environmental virtue signaling is one of those places where people routinely ignore that intent need not match outcome. It's remarkable how poorly justified this plastic straw ban is, yet it'll continue anyway because someone needs to publicly pretend to care about the environment.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 04 2018, @03:27PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 04 2018, @03:27PM (#702570)

    I can't speak to plastic straws in the ocean,but banning the common use of unnecessary drinking aids made of plastic WILL result in less plastic waste overall. This isn't rocket science and just look at jmorris to see how much crazier your "side" is. Common sense is your mantra right up until your emotions get triggered.

  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday July 04 2018, @04:07PM (1 child)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 04 2018, @04:07PM (#702590) Journal

    After all, they know we'll need them.

    Define "need", please.

    I have never, in my life, "needed" a straw. I've most certainly not needed once since I had my coffee IV put in. "Need" is something like water, oxygen, and nutrients. There may be some small number of people on this earth who really and truly "need" a straw to drink with. Dude got his jaw broken in an accident, and has half of his head wired together - he'll have a helluva time drinking without a straw. (Someone once told me that beer is more intoxicating when sucked through a straw.)

    Not only have you failed to make any points with this, but you've made yourself look a little silly. "I NEEEEED my straw!"

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 04 2018, @10:03PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 04 2018, @10:03PM (#702751)

      Time to have your friend get tested for neurological problems.