President Donald Trump has left the nation divided once again... this time with his promise to bring back plastic straws.
The issue of plastic versus paper straws is something many people have felt passionate about, as the former has been phased out due to its damaging effect on the environment.
While many people are not huge fans of paper straws and their tendency to disintegrate into a soggy mess mid-way through a drink, most would agree that it is a small price to pay to limit our impact on the planet.
However, citizens in the US might be getting their old plastic straws back, as President Trump shared on social media: "I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!”
Last summer, the Biden administration had announced an initiative to reduce single-use plastics in federal operations, including by phasing out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.
It said at the time: "The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that pollution can occur at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, disproportionately impacting communities with environmental justice concerns, contributing to loss of biodiversity, and exacerbating the impacts of climate change."
Biden had issued an executive order in 2022 calling for agencies to minimize waste and move to recycled products, with former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland saying: "The Interior Department has an obligation to play a leading role in reducing the impact of plastic waste on our ecosystems and our climate.
"As the steward of the nation’s public lands, including national parks and national wildlife refuges, and as the agency responsible for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats, we are uniquely positioned to do better for our Earth.”
Previously, the government had set a goal to end plastic pollution by 2040, with former EPA Administrator Michael Regan saying in August 2023: "Plastic pollution negatively impacts our environment and public health with underserved and overburdened communities hit hardest."
So, with President Trump attempting to reverse this pledge, his move to bring back plastic straws left those in his comments divided.
Many were upset to see the apparent step backwards in protecting the environment, writing: "1st dumb move ever from President Trump. Not significant in the grand scheme of things but dumb nonetheless. Métal straw are great … reusable, classier, less toxic, better for the environnement and more beautiful."
Others added: "It’s true that paper straws don’t work well. Why don’t we make something better than plastic that works but doesn’t negatively impact the environment?", and: "Is there anything that works better than paper but less harmful than plastic? Why are these our only two options?"
Some, however, were delighted at the prospect of single-use plastic straws returning, no matter how harmful.
They wrote: "Thank you Mr. President. My 12 year old stepson regularly throws tantrums when establishments serve his chocolate milk with a paper straw. I try to keep a few plastics on me at all times, but they are hard to find these days. This is why voting is so important!"
Others added: "Finally, a president willing to tackle the important issues. Paper straws are nasty," and: "Love this shift back to practicality with plastic straws!"
Singe-use plastics have become a major focus in the battle against pollution, including plastic bags, straws, bottles, and other items designed for one-time use.
It is estimated that Americans use around 500 million plastic straws each day.
There has been a push to ban single-use plastic items such as these since the late 2010s, with Seattle being the first state to issue a ban on plastic straws in 2018.
With the switch to paper straws came a lot of criticism for their effectiveness, as well as a 2023 study showing that they also have their own health risks with forever chemicals.
While plastic straws have been phased out because they are not recyclable, metal and glass straws have also been criticized for their environmental impacts, but have a far longer lifetime of usage than their plastic alternatives.
Nearly all plastics are made from fossil fuels, which also affects the Earth’s oceans, waterways, and ecosystems, by harming wildlife and breaking down into harmful microplastics, while their production also contributes to climate change.
According to the University of Colorado Boulder’s Environmental Center, the manufacture of plastics emits 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, and plastics also emit greenhouse gases when they are broken down and exposed to sunlight.