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This video was published April 21, 2015. This video was created by Emma Bryce. The URL is .com but not biased.There are no grammar errors. This video was created to explain what happens to water bottles and the effect of plastic.

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce

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This video as published June 27, 2018.It was created by WWF International. The URL is .com since its on youtube and it is not biased.This video was made to show people how much plastic is in everything and hat it causes.

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These pictures were published September 12, 2019. It was created by Kev Gregory, Vikenity Elizarov , Rich Carey , Silvia Truessel. The URL is .com and is mostly biased. These images were taken to show that images have a voice. People are killing animals and aquamarine animals.

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Can a photo save the world? Explore tips by top photographers on how they empower environmental issues through powerful images.

Image by ​Kev Gregory​. Gear: ​Canon EOS 7D​ camera, ​Sigma DG 50-500mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM​ lens. Settings: Focal length 373mm; exposure 1/320 sec; f6.3; ISO 320.

When UK photographer ​ Kev Gregory ​ made his way to Horsey Beach, he expected to see the famous gray seals and their newborn pups, but he didn't anticipate the scene that greeted him when he arrived: a seal was sitting on the beach, caught in a piece of fishing net.

"I immediately realized that whilst I was in no position to personally help the seal, getting in touch with the local welfare organizations would likely fair far better," he tells us. "I believe that a rescue effort was made to help the seal, my images and report of time and location having enabled a prompt response."

The memory followed him home that day, and over time, he recognized that although that seal might have found help, many others would not. "I then realized just how tragic the situation really was," he remembers. "This was not an isolated incident."
Image by ​Vikentiy Elizarov
Two other cases that made headlines recently were the stories of Mrs. Frisbee and Pinkafo, two gray seals whose necks were severely injured by plastic frisbees. They were ​rescued and released​, but another seal pup had to be euthanized after losing his nose to a nylon fishing line. Plastic pollution has become an urgent concern for local organizations like ​ Friends of Horsey Seals ​ as well as organizations working globally.

"This image has subsequently been used all over the world, by all manner of organizations, each dedicated to raising awareness of these kinds of situations and trying to bring about a change for the better," Gregory says. "Sights such as these are heart-breaking, and whilst a photographer may not be in a position to help directly, the images could possibly help indirectly, and they will almost certainly help to raise awareness of plastic pollution and mankind's impact on the environment. I hope my images have helped save other creatures around the world from such tragic consequences of human interaction, be it industrial, commercial, or personal waste."

It's not just fishing lines and large plastics, either. ​ Microplastics​ (plastics smaller than a grain of rice) have also been found in gray seal feces, and last year, a veterinary pathologist discovered a 2-inch square of plastic lodged in the stomach of a ​ dead harp seal pup​ in Scotland. Approximately 700 wild animal species consume plastic, believing it to be food. The effects of microplastics on humans are ​unknown ​ as of this moment, but they could be serious, as people who eat fish also ingest plastic.
"Turtles can eat plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish," underwater photographer Rich Carey ​writes.
Plastic waste kills an estimated one million marine animals every year. As ​National Geographic reported, a photographer recently found a loggerhead turtle in Spain, trapped underwater in a fishing net. Had the photographer not intervened, the turtle would have drowned. The problem affects everyone: fish, reptiles, mammals, and birds, who unknowingly bring plastic bits to their young.

The state of plastic pollution is devastating, but there is hope, and as Gregory explains, photographers have a role to play in reshaping our future. "It is imperative that mankind brings about this change before it is too late, and that we are made aware of the damage that thoughtless actions can bring," he continues. "Pollution within our environment can take many forms. There may be a feeling of guilt that comes with taking a picture of a helpless creature, but the image can be powerful, and whilst it may not have the ability to save your subject, it can go a long way toward saving others."

This year, ​ Beyond Plastic ​made it to ​Shutterstock's Creative Trends Report​, suggesting that it's not just photographers who want to help protect the environment. Searches for keywords like "plastic-free," "bamboo toothbrush," and "hemp" skyrocketed with increases of 729%, 676%, and 752%, respectively. Publishers, creative directors, and businesses small and large want to make a difference, and sometimes, that difference starts with images.

Beyond Plastic is more than a trend. It's a movement. And there are so many ways for photographers to be a part of it.

Image by ​Silvia Truessel​. Gear: ​Nikon D7100​ camera, ​Nikkor 200-500mm - AF-S f/5.6E ED VR​ lens. Settings: Focal length 500,0mm; exposure 1/1000 sec; f8; ISO 800.

Silvia Truessel​, who is based in Switzerland, had an encounter of her own while documenting the lives of South African fur seals in the Cape Cross Seal Reserve in Namibia. "In the midst of the merry crowd, I discovered this handsome fur seal with the rope around his neck," she remembers. "Even though he was not obviously suffering at the time, it hurt me to think that he might spend the rest of his life with it. These ropes cause cuts [and infections], and he could easily get stuck somewhere and not be able to break free on his own. It is natural that animals get hurt and die. But it is not natural that this happens due to human intervention."
Image by ​Silvia Truessel
Truessel reported what she saw to the rangers, as anyone should do in a similar situation, but she never learned about the outcome or whether the seal was alright in the end. She's always careful about plastics and never leaves anything behind in wilderness areas, but this moment drove the point home for her in a fresh and personal way. "I am irritated every time I see this kind of careless waste," she continues. "Recently, in Tanzania, I saw a young elephant playing with a plastic bottle."

Image by ​Irena Herak​. Gear: ​Canon EOS 1D Mark IV​ camera, ​300mm ​lens ​plus extender​. Settings: Focal length 300mm plus extender; exposure 1/1000 sec; f4; ISO 400.

Website | Instagram​

You don't have to be in the wilderness to witness the effects of plastic pollution up-close and personal. When Shutterstock Contributor ​ Irena Herak ​ went to photograph the swans at Danube quay in Belgrade, she spotted a pigeon wrapped in a plastic bag, and she realized that her photo could help others to understand the problem. "I managed to rescue him," she tells us. "He was so scared and tired."

Photo by ​maramorosz​. Gear: Nikon ​D800​ camera, ​18.0- 55.0 f/3.5-5.6​ lens. Settings: Focal length 18mm; exposure 1/125 sec; f6.3; ISO 200.

The ​ Beyond Plastic ​theme extends to all genres of photography, not just wildlife and documentary. Shutterstock Contributor ​Tetiana Lemak (​ maramorosz​) is part of the growing community of artists advocating for change through product and lifestyle photography. For more than two years, she's lived a ​ zero-waste lifestyle ​, and she even has a zero-waste shop in Ukraine, where she lives and works.

Photo by ​ maramorosz

"I need a lot of photos for my social media, so I use my photos and also sell them to other buyers on Shutterstock," she tells us. "I'm happy to see now that reducing waste is becoming more and more popular. This is something I really care about, so my photos reflect that."

Her hope? To inspire others. "By talking about it and providing examples of how to live without waste, I want to show people that they can do it too," she says.

Photo by ​ maramorosz

You can browse Lemak's shop ​ here​, and learn more about other brands going plastic-free ​ here​. Learn more about Friends of Horsey Seals, the organization helping seals on Horsey Beach, ​ here ​.

Image by ​ Kev Gregory.

Top Image by ​Rich Carey​.

Want to learn more about design's impact on the plastic-free movement? Check these out.

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Image by ​Kev Gregory ​. Gear: ​Canon EOS 7D​ camera, ​Sigma DG 50-500mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM​ lens. Settings: Focal length 373mm; exposure 1/320 sec; f6.3; ISO 320.

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This picture was published January 7, 2020. It was created by the International Olympic Committee. The URL is .org and isn't biased.  This image was created to provide guidance for creating an effective plan to reduce plastic waste.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a new guide which aims to help the sports community address plastic pollution.

The guide, entitled Plastic Game Plan for Sport, was published in collaboration with UN Environment and includes contributions from World Sailing. Referencing successful examples from across the sports world, it provides guidance to event organisers on creating an effective plan to reduce plastic waste. This includes key steps such as eliminating single-use plastic items, reducing the amount of plastic used, reusing plastic items and recycling.

"Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing our environment today and sport - like any other industry - has an urgent responsibility to address it," said Marie Sallois, IOC Director of Corporate and Sustainable Development. "The IOC's Plastic Game Plan for Sport aims to provide sports organisations, event organisers, athletes and fans with clear, step-by-step guidance on how to eliminate plastic waste from their operations and everyday lives."

The guide's recommendations include introducing reusable or compostable cups and tableware at events, providing water refill points, recycling bins and reducing the use of 'hidden plastic' such as merchandise, signage, branding and ticketing. In addition, the guide encourages event organisers to leverage their reach to raise awareness of plastic pollution. It also offers tips for athletes and fans on how to cut down their own plastic waste and inspire others to do the same.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020 - the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement - the IOC has committed to driving sustainable practices across the International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and the wider sports community. The IOC itself is reducing waste at its headquarters and is working with suppliers to ensure materials used at its events are sourced responsibly.

In June 2018, the IOC joined the UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign to fight plastic pollution in the oceans, calling on the entire Olympic Movement to follow suit. Eleven IFs, four NOCs and three commercial partners have so far committed to the initiative, putting concrete measures in place to reduce plastic waste.

In September 2019, the IOC supported the Big Plastic Pledge campaign, launched by Olympic sailing champion Hannah Mills. The campaign calls on athletes and fans to reduce their use of single-use plastic. Almost 200 elite athletes have signed the pledge so far, committing to reducing plastic use in their own lives and encouraging others to do the same.

The Plastic Game Plan for Sport is the latest instalment in the IOC's ' Sustainability Essentials' series, which provides practical guidance on key aspects of sustainability for NOCs, IFs and other sports organisations. Previous guides in the series include Introduction to sustainability, Sports for climate action and Sustainable sourcing in sport.

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IOC's Plastic Game Plan for Sport to help sports organisations tackle plastic pollution - Olympic News

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a new guide which aims to help the sports community address plastic pollution. The guide, entitled Plastic Game Plan for Sport , was published in collaboration with UN Environment and includes contributions from World Sailing.

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This article was published July 11,2019. This article was not updated. It was created by a account named hugh. The URL is a .com but is not biased. There are no grammar errors. It was published to say how plastic works better for a lot of different people and a lot of peoples wallets.

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Plastic straws are everywhere we look. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment.

But should plastic straws really be banned? And will a plastic straw ban actually be effective when it comes to saving our oceans and environment?

In this article, I'll go over both the pros and cons of a plastic straw ban. I'll also go over whether or not plastic straw bans will actually help the environment, and explain everything else you'll need to know.

Let's get started:

Why Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? (Pros of the Ban)

The single biggest reason why people want to ban plastic straws is because of their negative effects on the environment.

Plastic, in general, is one of the biggest pollutants in the world. Most of it is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution is extremely dangerous to marine life, and plastic straws are no exception.

Plastic straws (like most plastic) are non-biodegradable, meaning that it can't be naturally broken down by decomposers. They also aren't accepted by recycling facilities because they can jam recycling machinery (due to their small size). Thus, plastic straws can't be recycled.

To make matters worse, if plastic straws get into the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs up their digestive systems, which can easily choke or kill animals like birds or sea turtles.

In fact, the global backlash against plastic straws likely started after researchers off the coast of Costa Rica shared a viral video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose.

According to the researchers, the turtle likely mistook the straw for food and swallowed it. Then, the straw got stuck in the turtle's nose after she/he tried to cough the straw back out.

You probably already saw the video, but if you didn't, you can watch it below (WARNING: Graphic Content):

Supporters of plastic straw bans claim that the ban will help reduce our use of single-use plastics. As a result, the ban will reduce the number of plastic straws polluting the ocean.

According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. Plastic straws are also the 6th most common trash item found during ocean cleanups. A plastic straw ban would serve to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the ocean.

Overall, the main reason for a plastic straw ban is to help the environment by preventing plastic straws pollution.

If you'd like to learn more about how plastic straws negatively impact the environment, you can check out this article I wrote about the environmental impact of plastic straws.

Now, let's get into the negatives of a plastic straw ban:

Why Plastic Straws Shouldn't be Banned (Cons of the Ban):

While banning plastic straws might help the environment in some aspects (we'll talk about this later), there are also many reasons against (or cons) of a plastic straw ban.

Here are 3 reasons why plastic straws should not be banned, explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner:

1. Some Disabled People Require Plastic Straws to Drink

For some people with disabilities, straws are the only way they can drink. An outright ban on plastic straws would create an accessibility problem for disabled people while dining in public.

For example, some disabled people may not be able to properly hold or pick up a cup, so they need to use straws to drink properly.

Alternatives to plastic straws, such as paper, may not always be effective for disabled people: paper can be bitten through or broken easily. As for reusable straws, they aren't flexible as plastic ones and can be easily forgotten at home. This leaves few other alternatives other than plastic straws.

For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. A complete ban on plastic straws would harm disabled people, which definitely isn't the goal of such a ban.

So, what could be a better solution?

Well, a possible alternative solution could be to encourage businesses to only give out plastic straws on request. This way, disabled people can continue to be served, while also reducing the number of plastic straws that we use.

2. A Ban Could Harm Local Businesses

If plastic straws are completely banned, local small businesses like boba tea shops will have to look for pricier alternatives. This could negatively reflect on their income.

Paper straws cost on average around 2.5 cents ($0.025), whereas plastic straws cost only half a cent ($0.005). While an extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it could make a difference for some businesses that depend on plastic straws.

3. A Plastic Straw Ban Might Not Really Help the Environment

Some opposers of the plastic straw ban say that a ban is unlikely to actually help the environment, as plastic straws do not make up a large percentage of plastic in the ocean.

In fact, plastic straws only make up around 0.03 percent of total plastic waste by mass. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear ( Vox).

Therefore, a plastic straw ban by itself is unlikely to be very effective in actually helping the environment, although it could act as a gateway into the reduction of other single-use plastics. I'll talk about this more in the next section:

Will a Plastic Straw Ban Actually Help the Environment?

By itself, a plastic straw ban is unlikely to have a large impact on the environment. Without proper education, few people would know the purpose of the ban, and they would continue using other single-use plastics which could be even worse for the environment.

However, if a plastic straw ban is properly implemented with education about single-use plastics, then the ban could encourage the public to reduce their usage of other single-use plastics as well.

Increased awareness about the negative effects of single-use plastics would help the environment a lot more than just a simple plastic straw ban.

Additionally, a plastic straw ban could also act as a gateway into other single-use plastic bans for items like plastic bottles and plastic bags, which are worse for the environment than plastic straws.

Overall, the goal of a plastic straw ban should be to increase public awareness for single-use plastics and their nasty effects on the environment. Only then would a plastic straw ban be able to actually help preserve the environment.

Conclusion: Should Plastic Straws Be Banned?

There are definitely differing opinions on whether or not plastic straws should be banned. In fact, I just listed many reasons and points in this article that support both sides of the argument.

You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. However, as an environmental enthusiast, here's what I think about this ban.

In my opinion, plastic straws should not be banned outright, because many disabled people require plastic straws to drink. We shouldn't ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue.

However, I do believe that we should limit our use of plastic straws by asking businesses to only give out straws on request. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so.

It's also important to look at the bigger picture regarding plastic bans.
Getting rid of a single plastic straw may not have a very large effect on the environment. But, getting rid of all single-use plastics definitely will.

The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. A plastic straw ban could be a good step in the right direction, but we must use less single-use products overall to actually help the environment.

Please share this message with your friends so that together, we can tackle our global plastic problem. You can share this article on social media by using the share buttons below.

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Should Plastic Straws Be Banned? [Pros & Cons of a Straw Ban in 2019]

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Plastic straws are everywhere we look. We use them to drink beverages at home and we get them at almost every restaurant. Recently, however, plastic straws have been the subject of many plastic bans in an attempt to help the environment. But should plastic straws really be banned?

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This article was published August 15, 2019. This article was not updated. It was created by Sarah Rice.This article is on National Geographic News.The URL  is .com and is not really biased.There are about 4 grammar errors. It was published to explain bans on plastics and what effect the bans would do for our country.This article shows what plastic really does to our environment.

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This article was created in partnership with the National Geographic Society.

A battle over plastic-a material so prolific the UN calls the 90 percent of it that ends up as trash a pollution crisis-is under way in Florida.

Coral Gables, a small city of 51,000 people just south of Miami, wants to ban polystyrene from restaurants and grocery stores. The Florida Retail Federation does not, and an appeals court ruling delivered yesterday says they can keep the plastic product, in part thanks to a 2016 state rule that prevents cities from regulating how polystyrene is used.

The court battle demonstrates how cities and states are increasingly clashing over whether it's legal to ban plastic.

California, New York, and hundreds of municipalities in the U.S. ban or fine the use of plastic in some way. Seventeen other states, however, say it's illegal to ban plastic items, effectively placing a ban on a ban. This kind of legal maneuvering is booming. Four states created preemptions this year alone with two only narrowly failing in South Carolina and Alabama.

Often, efforts to preempt plastic bans are aided by the plastics industry, which wants to ensure its products remain widely used.

"First and foremost, we represent the manufacturers of plastic retail bags," says Matt Seaholm, executive director of the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a group affiliated with the plastics industry. "We engage at a local level to provide information to local officials on the merits of any type of an ordinance that is being proposed."

Seaholm said the industry is also looking out for local retailers. He adds plastic bans drive up costs, impose confusing regulations, and put in the hands of the government a decision that should be made by consumers and business owners.

Often partnering with local retail and restaurant associations, the industry is at odds with environmental groups that say single-use plastic must be urgently addressed.

"The plastic industry is putting a lot of their money on preemption, and they're winning," says Jennie Romer, an attorney at the Surfrider Foundation, a group that advocates for pro-environment policies.

Eight additional states are considering preemption measures in the coming years that could make it illegal to ban single-use plastics.

When the small border town of Laredo, Texas tried to pass a bill that banned plastic bags in 2008, they wanted to cut down on the costs associated with cleaning the commonly littered item out of waterways and public spaces.

With lobbying help from the American Chemistry Council, the bill was killed, according to an investigation by the Houston Chronicle.

In 2014, the bill was reintroduced and passed by the city. Even the state's multibillion-dollar cotton and cattle ranching industries supported the ban, saying the stray plastic tumbleweeds clogged machines and cows' stomachs.

Four years later, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the ban was illegal, saying it violated a 1993 law that prevented cities or counties from banning a container or package. With it, the ruling brought down 11 other local Texas bag bans.

"It was pretty disappointing," says Jason McCombs from Austin's waste management authority. "We lost a pretty important environmental tool to help protect our environment here."

In Colorado, it was also a 1993 statute that pro-plastic lawyers used to argue against city bans.

For most states, however, no decades-old law was on the books to prevent a plastic ban. Some of the fastest legislative action in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Missouri have rapidly developed after city plastic ordinances were adopted. These state bills all cite the need to create uniform laws throughout their states, a major point made by Seaholm.

"If you think about a retailer with stores in multiple jurisdictions, it becomes cumbersome to adhere to different processes," he says. "You end up with a patchwork."

When asked why the plastic industry tries to change state legislation instead of opposing city ordinances, Seaholm says it's to ensure this uniformity.

State-level preemptions are used to block a number of other city-level ordinances, from creating sanctuary cities to imposing sugar taxes.

Romer says large companies are more successful at the state level where legislators are less often confronted by grass roots city activists.

She also points to significant involvement from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) a right-leaning policy group that provides model legislation to states adopting plastic preemptions. Both the American Plastics Council and the Plastics Industry Association have been members of ALEC.

The effectiveness of bans

In Austin, McCombs says city residents have still embraced reusable bags even though plastic has been reintroduced. Since the ordinance was put in place in 2013, they've seen a 75 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags in collected litter, and they still plan to be a zero-waste city by 2040.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance often challenges the idea that plastic bans are a truly environmental option.

Plastic bags, they argue, have more than a single use. They can be reused for tasks like lining trash cans or picking up dog waste. Their website cites a study in the journal of Environmental Economics and Management that found California consumers often purchased heavier trash bags to compensate.

A statewide ban that led to a 40-million-pound reduction in plastic waste, was offset by a 12-million-pound increase in trash bags, the study found.

The paper ultimately recommended imposing bag fees, like the five-cent charge you pay to use a plastic bag in Washington, D.C. The fee, the paper concludes, would could cost less than buying small trash bags but still encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags.

The Surfrider Foundation also encourages fees instead of outright bans as the most effective way to incentivize consumers to change their behavior.

To fight back against preemptions, legislators have recently begun to draft anti-preemption laws that would allow cities to reinstate bans and fees on plastic items-the dreaded ban on ban of bans.

Eight states have introduced anti-preemption bills, though none have significantly progressed.

National Geographic is committed to reducing plastics pollution. Learn more about our non-profit activities at natgeo.org/plastics. This story is part ofPlanet or Plastic?-our multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis. Learn what you can do toreduce your own single-use plastics, andtake your pledge.

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See the complicated landscape of plastic bans in the U.S.

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This article was created in partnership with the National Geographic Society. A battle over plastic-a material so prolific the UN calls the 90 percent of it that ends up as trash a pollution crisis-is under way in Florida. Coral Gables, a small city of 51,000 people just south of Miami, wants to ban polystyrene from restaurants and grocery stores.

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This article was published February 24,2020 4:00 am. This article wasn't published since then. The article was by BEN ORNER CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS. The URL is a .com and it actually is biased too. There are also about 6 grammar errors. The article explains the plans and what they want to do with the single-use plastic.

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In an effort to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution, a group of state lawmakers from both legislative chambers touted a series of bills Tuesday, Feb. 18, that would tax or ban single-use plastics and aim to boost recycling.

The four proposals have the support of organizations such as the Illinois Environmental Council and the Sierra Club of Illinois. Advocates said the aim is to increase sustainability, encourage environmental consciousness and improve the health and appearance of public spaces, land and waterways.

"We're attacking this at every level to make sure that we really start to stem the tide of plastics in our society," said state Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield, whose district borders Lake Michigan.

Nearly 11 million pounds of plastic waste enter Lake Michigan every year, according to a 2016 study by the Rochester Institute of Technology, the most of any of the Great Lakes.

Plastics do not decompose and instead break into smaller and smaller pieces that fish and other wildlife mistake for food. These microplastics can also slip through water treatment plants and into tap water. A study published last year in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found the average American ingests as many as 121,000 microplastics every year.

"The time is now to do something to save our environment from drowning in plastic," said state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, a Democrat from Glenview and sponsor of House Bill 5169.

Her bill, along with an identical Senate Bill 3677, would ban polystyrene foam - commonly known as brand name Styrofoam - by 2022. Polystyrene is a nondegradable material used in house insulation, packaging and takeout food containers.

Tax on plastic bags

The series of bills includes one introduced during last year's legislative session that would tax single-use paper, plastic and compostable bags that shoppers carry out from stores.

House Bill 3335 would place a 10-cent fee on each bag except in cities with more than 1 million people, which includes only Chicago which has an existing seven-cent tax.

Four other Illinois cities already tax or ban plastic bags as well, according to the American Recyclable Plastic Alliance, which advocates for plastic bag use. Edwardsville and Woodstock each tax 10 cents per bag, while Oak Park taxes the same amount for retailers over 5,000 square feet. Plastic bags are banned in Evanston.

Plastic carryout bags are banned statewide in California, Hawaii, Oregon and the five inhabited U.S. territories. Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle also ban or tax them.

Many chain stores and large grocers in Illinois, however, recycle customers' used plastic bags, according to database maintained by the American Chemistry Council.

"Why would I pay for something that I'm already recycling?" said Susan Steele, a shopper in Springfield leaving a County Market location Tuesday where she says she recycles her plastic bags.

Under HB 3335, three cents would go back to retailers while the rest would be distributed to various environmental funds. Restaurants, food banks, food assistance programs and mobile food delivery are exempted from the bag tax.

"It really is incentivizing consumers to use reusable and recyclable bags," Rep. Ann Williams, a Chicago Democrat and the House sponsor of the bag tax, said.

A University of Chicago study found disposable bag use fell 42 percent in Chicago in just the first month of the tax going into effect in 2017.

The House Revenue and Finance Committee will hear the bill Thursday, Feb. 20. An identical version in the other chamber, Senate Bill 3423, has yet to be assigned to a substantive committee.

Get paid to recycle

Three bills waiting on committee assignments focus on reducing plastic food waste. Senate Bill 3764 would give state contract preference to bidders who include compostable or recyclable food utensil use in their contracts. It also prohibits single-use plastic utensils at state parks and the Illinois State Fair after 2023.

House Bill 5552 and its identical counterpart, Senate Bill 3424, would make Illinois the 11th state with a container deposit program. People would be able to redeem plastic, glass or metal beverage containers for a 5-cent refund paid by the business or a redemption center.

"It's a good business opportunity where you can make money not only as a commercial enterprise," said Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council.

She added that some people in states with these programs make money by picking up littered bottles.

Businesses, industry groups may oppose proposals

HB 5552 and SB 3424 would also prohibit restaurants and takeout food services from giving customers single-use plastic utensils unless a customer asks for them.

"I go to a restaurant, they immediately give me a plastic straw. I order takeout, they throw in carryout utensils whether I want them or not," Walling said. "I would say it is harder to create a lot of waste than it is to reduce your waste right now."

All four proposals, however, may be a tough sell to businesses and industry groups.

"We're concerned about the piecemeal approach," said Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

"You're putting a tax on every little product," Karr said. "For consumers that's nickel-and-diming them to death and for retailers you're making that item much more expensive."

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Illinois lawmakers want to get rid of plastic and styrofoam. Here's the plan.

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In an effort to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution, a group of state lawmakers from both legislative chambers touted a series of bills Tuesday, Feb. 18, that would tax or ban single-use plastics and aim to boost recycling.

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This is the best article I read on single use plastic.It is not biased and it has good information about single use plastics. It was published January 09, 2020. This article agrees with my claim and my topic.The author is  by Courtney Lindwall. The URL is .org which can be a reliable source. It has one grammar error. This article was meant to educate the readers to learn more about plastic and how banning plastic would help all animals and communities.

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What Are Single-Use Plastics?

Put simply, single-use plastics are goods that are made primarily from fossil fuel-based chemicals (petrochemicals) and are meant to be disposed of right after use-often, in mere minutes. Single-use plastics are most commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bottles, wrappers, straws, and bags.

Though plastic-a chain of synthetic polymers, essentially-was invented in the mid-19th century, it wasn't until the 1970s that its popularity skyrocketed. Manufacturers began replacing traditionally paper or glass staples with lighter or more durable and affordable plastic alternatives; plastic jugs replaced milk jars, for instance. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced, and half of that in the past 15 years alone.

There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. But these cases make up a small fraction of single-use plastic. According to a 2017 study, more than half of non-fiber plastic, which excludes synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, comes from plastic packaging alone, much of which is for single-use items.

Why Is Single-Use Plastic Bad?

Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Our reliance on these plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate. We produce 300 million tons of plastic each year worldwide, half of which is for single-use items. That's nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.

Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). Carrying reusable bags and bottles is one great way to avoid single-use plastics in our day-to-day lives; more on preventing plastic waste can be found below.

Recycling more plastic, more frequently, reduces its footprint. Polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most commonly recycled plastics and the material that makes up most water and soda bottles, can be turned into everything from polyester fabric to automotive parts. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isn't recycled at all. Instead it ends up in landfills or in the environment. Single-use plastics in particular-especially small items like straws, bags, and cutlery-are traditionally hard to recycle because they fall into the crevices of recycling machinery and therefore are often not accepted by recycling centers.

Left alone, plastics don't really break down; they just break up. Over time, sun and heat slowly turn plastics into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become what are known as microplastics. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detect-and are just about everywhere. Some microplastics are even small by design, like the microbeads used in facial scrubs or the microfibers in polyester clothing. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. They've even made their way up to the secluded Pyrenees mountain range and down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. For wildlife, microplastics can be particularly dangerous; when eaten they can easily accumulate inside an animal's body and cause health issues, like punctured organs or fatal intestinal blockages.

Single-Use Plastics and Pollution

Although single-use plastic pollution accumulates most visibly on our streets, in fact our water suffers even more. Litter can be the first stage in a waste stream that enters waterways as plastics tossed on the street are washed away by rain or travel via storm drains into rivers and streams. Our waterway plastic pollution is particularly concentrated: Just ten rivers carry 93 percent of the world's total amount of plastic that enters the oceans via rivers each year.

In 2015 researchers from the University of Georgia estimated that between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic per year make their way into the oceans via people living within 30 miles of a coast. The majority of this pollution-dominated by single-use plastic waste-comes from countries lacking infrastructure to properly manage waste, particularly in Asia. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. (It's also important to remember that waste management is just one part of the global materials cycle. For instance, a lot of the plastic produced in Asian countries is for products that serve U.S. demand-and the United States often sends plastic waste back to these countries for recycling.)

Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050. Not only is plastic estimated to kill millions of marine animals and seabirds each year, but it's also contaminating seafood that humans have relied on for millennia, particularly with microplastics in animals' guts.

Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. A recent report showed that plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. The process of drilling for plastic's source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. Refineries where crude oil is turned into plastic make up one of the most greenhouse gas-intensive industries in the manufacturing sector. And "cracker plants"-which break, or "crack," ethane molecules, a component of natural gas, into the chemical building blocks of plastic products-are energy intensive and highly polluting. In 2015 a mere 24 of these ethane cracker facilities in the United States had the combined carbon output of 3.8 million passenger vehicles. And the recent fracking boom, resulting in a surplus of oil, is fueling a subsequent rise in cracker plants, too. That's bad news for our carbon reduction goals: if plastic production continues unabated, its greenhouse gas emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030 -equal to adding nearly 300 new coal-fired power plants-even as the need to curb global climate change becomes more urgent.

Plastic pollution-whether in our oceans, piling up on our coastlines, or contributing to our climate crisis-impacts vulnerable communities first. Even if plastic doesn't end up in the ocean, recycled plastic is often exported from high-income countries to developing countries to process. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. This is the case particularly in Southeast Asia, which has begun to import much of the plastic that used to go to China for recycling. Not only does the waste destroy the land itself, but when plastic is incinerated (as is the case for unrecyclable plastic at some illegal facilities) its toxic fumes quickly become a health hazard for residents, leading to everything from skin rashes to cancer. Such is the case with many environmental crises: the worst effects are pushed onto overburdened communities with the fewest resources to fight back.

Should We Ban Single-Use Plastics?

Plastic is putting a strain on waste management systems, our oceans, and vulnerable communities the world over. A wave of single-use plastic bans is sweeping the country and the globe-most often on plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and takeout clamshells. (Some places are going so far as to ban single-use plastics entirely; most notably, India intends to go this route by 2022.) Among the U.S. cities to outlaw plastic straws are Malibu, Berkeley, Seattle, and Miami Beach. Plastic bag bans-ideally accompanied by a fee on paper bags-are also catching on. New York State and Hawaii just passed theirs, set to go into effect in 2020, and California's bag ban, which was passed in 2014, has been shown to have reduced plastic bag usage by 85 percent (with some customers opting to pay a 10 cent fee for thicker plastic bags) and has reduced coastal pollution.

What do the bans accomplish? They prevent millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream each year. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts. In New York, 23 billion plastic bags are used by residents each year. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production that's contributing to global climate change. But beyond these impacts, the bans have cultural effects. Companies are forced to innovate, rethinking their designs and sourcing sustainable materials. And they help shift consumer mind-sets, as people begin to recognize that exorbitant and avoidable waste is not sustainable.

Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. As part of the Break Free From Plastic movement, Greenpeace volunteers conducted an audit of plastic pollution along coastlines, sifting through tens of thousands of individual pieces across 42 countries to identify the pollution's sources. They discovered that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé products were found most often. Coca-Cola has said that it alone produces three million tons of plastic packaging each year, equivalent to a terrifying 200,000 plastic bottles per minute. Policies like bottle bill laws-which generally require retailers to add a fee on individual bottles, which can then be partially redeemed by customers when they recycle-are a way to increase corporate responsibility for waste while providing a monetary incentive to recycle. In Taiwan, which was once overflowing with so much trash that it spurred public protest and the nickname "Garbage Island," companies now either manage their own waste or subsidize government-run infrastructure. Accompanied by high social accountability and musical garbage trucks, that strategy has proved wildly effective: the island now reports recycling rates above 50 percent.

Some companies are taking initiative on their own. McDonald's swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. And Starbucks, which uses an estimated one billion plastic straws per year, is phasing them out in favor of paper ones. These actions are a response to calls for change and shifting consumer habits.

Avoiding Single-Use Plastics

Individual choices -and the collective shifts they bring about-add up quickly. Making just one simple swap, like purchasing a reusable water bottle, can spare the environment hundreds of plastic bottles each year. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good.

Always pack a reusable bag when shopping. (And yes-reusable totes are better for the environment than plastics, recent media claims aside.)

Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers.

Buy in bulk. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs.

Though buying online sometimes has a lower carbon footprint than shopping in a store (skip the express delivery option, if you can), online shipments are still chock-full of plastic. Your best bet to reduce your footprint and plastic waste? Walk, bike, or take public transit to buy in-person.

Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option.

Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go.

Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags.

Speak out in support of local plastic bans, whether by calling your local government representative, submitting an op-ed to your city's newspaper, or simply starting conversations with neighbors.

Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. Tweet, call, or send letters to these companies to ask them to switch to more durable, recyclable, compostable, renewable, and/or recycled-content packaging with less fossil fuel-derived plastic.

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Here's everything you need to know about the most ubiquitous (and avoidable) kind of plastic waste: the kind made to be tossed in mere minutes.

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This article was published February 23,2020. It has a lot of quotes from people are mostly negative and then they say why they're wrong.This information agrees with my claim and my topic.The author  is SHANT SHAHRIGIAN and NEW YORK DAILY NEWS is the sponsor. This website is a .com this website is kind of biased. There were three grammar errors. This article is meant to correct all of the negative comments and prove why plastic free helps.

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Bag the ban, say some business leaders and New Yorkers ahead regulations barring a staple of city life.

"I can't do without it!" Barbara White, 70, said while clutching her plastic bags Saturday outside an East Harlem grocery store. "I'm so used to this kind of way. And I usually get more than I bargained for when I go in there.

"I know it's for the green, whatever that thing is called - climate change," she added. "I'll be in trouble."

State lawmakers approved a ban on most kinds of single-use plastic bags last year, saying the move would reduce litter and help the fight against climate change. There are exemptions including for take-out orders, dry cleaners and garbage bags.

New Yorkers support the ban 62-33, according to a Siena College poll conducted after it was passed.

Opponents fear an economic burden in counties allowing a 5-cent fee on paper bags as a way to encourage consumers to bring reusable bags when shopping.

"It's very unfair," said India Gonzalez, a teacher in her 30s making a grocery run to City Fresh Market on E. 116th St. "There are people who can't even afford 5 cents. You've gotta take this into consideration."

Most city lawmakers have embraced the ban, which kicks in on March 1, but two of them led a rally calling on Gov. Cuomo to put a hold on enforcement. A state official said Tuesday that Cuomo was doing just that, but Councilmen Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx) and Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) weren't aware of the hold at a rally Thursday.

"Our future and the environment is important to us, but it's not exclusive that this should be done on the backs of small businesses," Gjonaj fumed. "In particular, 13,000 bodegas in New York City are not prepared for this regulation."

Shops won't face any consequences for the foreseeable future.

"Enforcement will follow in the months ahead," state Department of Environmental Conservation Chief of Staff Sean Mahar said on WAMC radio.

"Our goal is to make sure that there's a smooth transition for consumers and affected retailers with this ban," he added. "But we want to give a period of transition."

Earlier this month, the governor announced a campaign to educate New Yorkers about the ban, in tandem with the distribution of 270,000 free usable bags statewide.

But Gjonaj and Rodriguez said the state hasn't done nearly enough.

"Customers ... are not aware of this regulation and will not be prepared to shop locally," said Gjonaj, who's reeling from a series of scandals.

Low-income New Yorkers "don't have the resources to buy recycled bags," said Rodriguez, who promised to devote "5-10%" of his discretionary funding to reusable bag giveaways.

Business leaders at the rally said they haven't had time to inform customers and stock up on supplies.

"We need to allow the time to the chambers to source [reusable bags] in Latin America with our counterparts," said Frank Garcia, chair of the Chairman of the National Association of Latino State Chambers.

"Gov. Cuomo ... you hurt the small businesses that are the heartbeat of New York!" he added.

Ban supporters are focused on the local and global environmental damage from plastic bags including manufacturing pollution, littering the streets, clogging landfills, and harming wildlife.

"Reusable bags have been a thing for 10, 15 years now. Everyone should get with it," said Nikki Anderson, 28. "Why don't we all just get on board for the one world that we have?"

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New York readies to say goodbye to a staple of city life: plastic shopping bags

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Bag the ban, say some business leaders and New Yorkers ahead regulations barring a staple of city life. "I can't do without it!" Barbara White, 70, said while clutching her plastic bags Saturday outside an East Harlem grocery store. "I'm so used to this kind of way.