EU proposes ban on plastic straws, cutlery

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JACQUELINE THOMSEN - - 05/28/18 01:18 PM EDT

The European Union (EU) on Monday unveiled a proposed ban on single-use plastic items like straws and cutlery in an attempt to limit plastic pollution.

The draft rules would ban the 10 single-use plastic products that make up 70 percent of all marine litter, according to a news release. Plastic cotton swabs, plates and drink stirrers are also included in the ban.

The proposed rules will also require manufacturers of plastic products to help cover the cost of waste management and clean-up. Companies will also be given incentives to create alternatives for other plastic products like cups and plastic bags.

The measure would need to be approved by all EU member states and the European Parliament. CNN reported that it could three or four years for the rules to go into effect./18 01:18 PM EDT

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/389621-eu-proposes-ban-on-plastic-straws-cutlery

[TimeSnowDemos]

1. Good

There's no real need for them.

[defacto7]

11. They are unnecessary.

I suppose carrying a spork around town or on a keychain could seem cumbersome but it would work. Sure beats crummy plastic forks.

[TimeSnowDemos]

14. wood

many places in Ireland are switching to recyclable and biodegradable materials like wood and paper...

https://www.nisbets.ie/disposable-wooden-forks-pack-of-100/cd903?vatToggle=incvat&cm_mmc=PLA-_-810383719-_-43515368522-_-CD903&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3N5jcxekYLoNBMgtWbC35HKvo92DP6fPWINJTVz71a0sIew-QxWkcsaApFgEALw_wcB

http://favourlane.ie/paper-straws

The time of single use plastic garbage needs to be over... a decade ago...

[forgotmylogin]

34. Paper straws used to be a thing.

They're a little bit of a bummer because they collapse. Also, I've heard of people buying metal and hard plastic "permanent" straws that can go in the dishwasher.

What about straws made of food-grade wax for cold drinks? Like what they make candy lips and vampire teeth out of?

Oh! Or just make straws of thin aluminum like cans...or is that just replacing one recyclable for another?

[TimeSnowDemos]

39. Exactly

there's a million good options of which plastic isn't one

[crazycatlady]

41. I'm increasingly seeing paper straws available

I'm seeing them in the dollar section of Target. But I think they're more expensive than plastic.

[CatMor]

2. I wish they would do that here.

[SeattleVet]

5. Some places are making a start...

plastic microbeads in cosmetic products have already been banned from manufacture in the US. Some states and cities are doing what they can to reduce plastic waste - bans on plastic straws (look up the "Stop Sucking" initiative from https://www.strawlessocean.org), thin plastic bags, etc.

Many companies and organizations are also doing what they can.

The EU proposal includes a lot of incentives for companies to do the right thing.

[CatMor]

7. That's good because things like plastic straws and utensils are so unnecessary...

I'm not sure how take out food would be handled without plastic utensils..

[TimeSnowDemos]

16. wood

and other recyclable material... cheap and widely available...

http://favourlane.ie/paper-straws

[CatMor]

22. Never thought of that and it would be fine. Thank you.

[zentrum]

31. There are paper

…substitutes. The containers can be dense and handle wet food easily.

[forgotmylogin]

35. They already have plastic lids...

Could they just make them with a spout similar to coffee cups?

[Igel]

15. Be the change.

Don't use straws if you eat out. Carry your own fork/etc. if the place you're going to uses plastic. Don't use drink stirrers. Don't use plastic lids to cups if you don't need to.

Sure, you may only keep a couple hundred pieces of plastic from hitting the landfill, maybe keep 4 out of the ocean. But it's a start, and it's better than saying, "I'll only do it if everybody else does."

It's like many of my colleagues. If it's the law, they'll do what's right. Otherwise they feel like they're suffering more than others, and none of them has the courage of their convictions or the willingness to be even slightly inconvenienced.

[Calista241]

3. Good idea.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Wood cutlery is available on Amazon for camping

and picnics. Biodegradable and somewhat elegant!

[defacto7]

9. More trees, unfortunately.

I wonder what's wrong with multi use cutlery when camping? Is it the washing that people don't like?

[HeartachesNhangovers]

6. The government should do that here, but we

shouldn't wait for them to take action. Don't use plastic straws, reject plastic cutlery, take your own reusable bags when shopping and your own Tupperware when you go out to eat and expect leftovers - leave some in the car so you don't forget.

It doesn't take government action to reduce plastic waste - it takes people action.

[defacto7]

8. This!

That's what we have been doing for years... except the Tupperware idea. Good idea.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

10. At first I thought it would be weird, but the

restaurant staff always appreciates it, and you don't have to wait for the over-worked staff to fetch a container for you.

[TimeSnowDemos]

18. welllll

I mean government action DOES work... no need to discourage it

free plastic shopping bags have been banned in many EU states for years... and... we all survive.

[csziggy]

12. We need to travel with the picnic set my husband inherited from his grandmother

The basket it was in is trashed but the metal enameled plates and cups and the metal utensils are in perfect condition. I should sew a soft bag with pockets to carry the set around in.

The worst part is that we would have to figure out how to clean the set off once we used it.

[cstanleytech]

19. Personally I would use a good quality woven one with a removable washable liner.

[Lochloosa]

20. Carry a plastic gallon of water with you.

[csziggy]

23. We're usually not away from a public water source

So water is not the problem. Planning on washing up after a picnic just takes a little time so it's doable. If I make a carry case for the set I can plan on a place to put a small thing of dish soap in a ziplock bag.

Next year's trip to the UK will not let us carry that set with us - we've already got to take bird watching, photography, needlework, and genealogy equipment with us. I see heavy duty plastic versions online - maybe I could pick up some of those to carry as we travel around the UK.

We do have plastic forks and knives here and most of them have been through the dishwasher dozens of times. Same for our plastic cups - they can handle top of the dishwasher just fine. We use them for outdoors but haven't made it through a package of them in twenty years!

[EleanorR]

13. compostable cutlery

Compostable cutlery is available, made entirely from plants.

[cstanleytech]

17. Whats needed is a worldwide ban on them not to mention disposable plastic bottles like

Coca~Cola uses as well as Styrofoam cups, plates and bowls.

[forgotmylogin]

36. I wish they'd lose the plastic.

Sometimes I see soft drinks in aluminum shaped like a bottle and it's the coolest! Literally - metal makes your drink icy cold unlike plastic which is somewhat of an insulator. Metal "bottles" can be recycled like cans.



Heck...make recyclable straws out of aluminum.

[cstanleytech]

38. Personally I favor glass over metal and plastic.

[dembotoz]

21. So revolution or decimation of restaurant industry

We are a species on the go.
Take out traveling food is finger only?
No soups, ice cream, salads, thick drinks, chili, pasta, take out Chinese?
Either come up with plan b or fuck off.

Or why are u in prison?...they found a plastic fork in my car...

If u want to make disrespect of law a real thing, make stupid laws that folks will willingly break

[Hekate]

25. That's a bit extreme. Before plastic, there was paper, waxed paper, and cardboard...

All of those things are wood products. Add to that flat wooden spoons for ice cream.

I've seen fast food places that now stock eating utensils made out of corn byproducts or something like that, very biodegradable.

My region did two major things about the scourge of plastic bags: individual cities outlawed their use by retailers. Next, Individual stores started charging 10 cents a bag if you didn't bring your own bags with you, and everybody learned pretty quick to bring their own bags. (In my case I usually tell the clerk to return the items to my cart unbagged, then I box or bag them myself at the trunk of my car).

I don't see any of the dire events you forecast happening here.

[dembotoz]

28. Would like to think u r right but I doubt it

We still have those stupid plastic rings for 6packs
Everyone knows they are a problem but they remain

[FSogol]

42. Some people are working on replacements for those 6-pack rings:

Saltwater Brewery in Delray Beach, Florida, recently released edible six-pack rings, a brand-new approach to sustainable beer packaging. These six-pack rings are 100 percent biodegradable and edible—constructed of barley and wheat ribbons from the brewing process. This packaging can actually be safely eaten by animals that may come into contact with the refuse.

https://www.craftbeer.com/editors-picks/saltwater-brewery-creates-edible-six-pack-rings

[dembotoz]

43. Have seen and applaud that, but we have known about this problem for decades

This is why I am less optimistic

[christx30]

33. It all comes down to price.

You got two things. One of them is good for the environment, costs $7.85. The other, not so great, costs $7.53. I’d guess 75% of the population will choose the second item. A business who relies on a razor thin profit margin to stay in business (stay employed) will choose the cheaper option. If that option is better for the environment, they’ll tout that as why they chose it (for example, in bathrooms at IKEA, the faucets are powered by the lighting in the bathrooms via solar collectors. IKEA says it’s environmental. It’s just one less thing that’s plugged in to the electricity they pay for).
So if the corn byproducts fork is cheaper than the plastic version, they will start using that. Not many people will pay more voluntary.

[wonkwest]

29. Compostable greenware is a thing

My boyfriend runs a froyo shop, and they use compostable greenware for their disposable spoons. I'm not sure what exactly it's made from - he says starch derived from potatoes - but I honestly cannot tell the difference between that and plastic. It really feels like every other plastic spoon.

Here in the Bay Area, plastic shopping bags were phased out with a 10 cent per bag fee for paper ones. Most people simply bring their own reusable bags now. It was an adjustment, sure, but now it's just a habit with everyone.

These are relatively small changes that can have big environmental impacts.

edit: He sent me a link to where the shop gets them from: http://portal.southwesttraders.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=110_134_73&product_id=2604

The site has scant information, but they pay about $34 for 1,000 spoons.

[dembotoz]

30. Let's hope so

[Hekate]

24. I hope paper straws make a solid comeback.Ever tried to drink cold fluid with thinning tooth enamel?

It hurts. I like cold drinks as much as anyone, but they hurt my front teeth -- and some of the rest. Wrapping my tongue around a straw makes an icy drink a treat.

[crazycatlady]

26. I drink most things with a straw

Then again I predominately use a reusable water bottle with a flip top straw top.

I use the coffee stirrer straws to drink coffee to keep it from staining my teeth. I'm searching hi and wide for a reusable option (for now I use the plastic ones multiple times) but have only found thick reusable straws (smoothies/milkshake type thick).

[BigmanPigman]

27. I went to Earth Day celebrations

a lot in the past and the "plastic" bowls and utensils look like plastic but are made from cornstarch. I saw Udon Noodle mix at the market and the bowl with that mix was made of cornstarch too.

[zentrum]

32. Exactly.

[SeattleVet]

37. There are also some edible utensils on the market in some areas.

Some are made from grains (mainly millet) and can stand up to hot soups and other foods, then be consumed at the end of the meal as another type of bread. This brand is currently available in India, but he hopes to get larger production facilities and more distribution, and eventually hopes to get the price down to the same as plastic.

Here's a TED talk by the inventor of the 'Bakeys':

There are a few other brands on the market in limited areas. Hopefully this idea will become more viable.

[janterry]

40. I never use straws

and we keep knives and forks in the car, should we need them.

I've gone hiking a lot and I've never seen anyone hike with plastic. I bring a utility knife and eat with that. My goal is to keep as little in my pack as possible - I have enough weight to carry with the tent
plus there's no place to throw out plastic on a mountain.

The only people who need straws are those in the hospital, imo.