Indeed. I don't think people use these plastics because they like them.
The truth is that most products today contain plastics - pens, PC pasts, containers ...
It's hard to find a replacement that is just so good. Paper straws shows the problems with paper-based products.

Reply 7

Surnia

20

Why aren't they investigating how these items end up as litter and polluting the waterways, and what are they doing about cleaning up the mess?

Reply 8

SHallowvale

14

A lot of plastic packaging could be replaced with something a lot more environmentally friendly, such as glass or paper.

Is plastic packaging a greather threat to us than climate change, though? Probably not. OP, do I dare ask why you put climate change in quotation marks?

Reply 9

DSilva

12

I'm at a loss as to why anyone over the age of 12 needs a straw for their drink.

Reply 10

DSilva

12

Original post by Starship Trooper

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/single-use-plastic-plates-cutlery-b1960758.html

For once I'm in complete agreement with the government and climate activists. Plastic is ubiquitous toxic garbage in our culture and is in everything from food to shampoo and should be phased out.

Plastic is a far bigger threat to us than "climate change".

See:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/15/its-on-our-plates-and-in-our-poo-but-are-microplastics-a-health-risk

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/22/microplastics-revealed-in-placentas-unborn-babies?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7869703/Banned-chemical-used-toys-clothes-food-packets-damage-fertility.html

https://graphics.reuters.com/ENVIRONMENT-PLASTIC/0100B4TF2MQ/index.html

You're such a whiny eco warrior.

😉

Reply 11

Starship Trooper

OP

15

Original post by DSilva

I'm at a loss as to why anyone over the age of 12 needs a straw for their drink.

I like to use a straw when drinking coke when out to mitigate the chance of my teeth being stained (obv I brush them when I get home)

Reply 12

SHallowvale

14

Original post by DSilva

I'm at a loss as to why anyone over the age of 12 needs a straw for their drink.

Straws make some drinks taste better. I prefer fizzy drinks from a straw rather than directly from the cup because it tastes nicer.

Paper straws, though, I have never had an issue with. Can't understand the fuss, tbh.

Reply 13

Just my opinion

20

Funny enough I've just bought some split green beans from Tesco's (in November, what an amazing world we live in) and I'm torn between feeling bad that they came in plastic or that they were brought here from Egypt.
All by a company that asks you if you are sure you really need a receipt, in an effort to save the planet.

Reply 14

Starship Trooper

OP

15

Just get two paper straws in case one gets too soggy, doesn't really happen that often lol

Reply 15

SHallowvale

14

Original post by Starship Trooper

Just get two paper straws in case one gets too soggy, doesn't really happen that often lol

Or just not wait 100 years to finish your drink. xD

Reply 16

Pythian

21

Original post by DSilva

I'm at a loss as to why anyone over the age of 12 needs a straw for their drink.

I take it you've never had a cocktail.

Or a dentist.

mmm in theory a good idea in practice its a royal pain in the arse. Theyve been banned here for a while, notably shopping bags, and i havent been able to find a suitable replacement step in bin bag to replace the trusty old NewWorld ones :lol:

That being said, in the broader context, there are plenty of alternatives to use, depending on the application, its simply a matter of cost and convenience for people. Then again, if they actually disposed of the things properly and didn't dump them across the country in a manner Curtis LeMay would be proud of this would be a nonissue. Getting a dedicated collection for them and disposing of them properly would be far less annoying but alas.