Trump’s Plan to Bring Back Plastic Straws
In a move that has left many environmentally conscious Americans scratching their heads, Donald Trump has announced plans to reverse Joe Biden’s initiative to phase out plastic straws across the US government.
The former President took to Truth Social to declare that he will sign an executive order to “end the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work.”
Trump’s reasoning? Paper straws “disgustingly dissolve in your mouth.”
The Battle Against Single-Use Plastics
Biden’s plan, unveiled last year, aimed to eliminate single-use plastics from the federal government by 2035. The move was part of a broader effort to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution.
The US government is one of the world’s largest consumers of goods, and the initiative was seen as a crucial step towards reducing waste.
Other countries, like those in the European Union, have already implemented bans on single-use plastic items.
Trump’s Love Affair with Plastic Straws
Trump has long been a vocal critic of restrictions on plastic straws. During his 2020 re-election campaign, his team sold reusable straws on their website, claiming that “liberal paper straws don’t work.”
Upon returning to the White House in January, Trump rescinded a Biden order to phase out single-use plastics on federal lands, including national parks, by 2032.
The Alarming State of Plastic Pollution
The world is facing a plastic crisis, with global production expected to quadruple by 2050. Less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled, with the rest ending up in the environment.
This has devastating consequences, with plastics choking and killing marine creatures and birds, and microplastics found in the bodies of animals, including humans.
The Climate Connection
Plastics are a product of fossil fuels, and increased production will only add to the planet-heating emissions that are driving the climate crisis.
By the middle of the century, global emissions from plastic production could triple, accounting for one-fifth of the Earth’s remaining carbon budget.
Green Groups Sound the Alarm
Environmental organizations have slammed Trump’s decision, saying it will only worsen the plastic pollution crisis.
“Instead of finding solutions, President Trump is announcing executive orders that are more about messaging than action,” said Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director at Oceana.
“The US should be leading the way in reducing single-use plastics and promoting reuse and refill systems.”