Legislation ban the use of plastic drinking straw and utensil in Seattle came into action mechanism on Sunday , making the Emerald City the first major city in the US to do so .
" formative defilement is surpassing crisis level in the world ’s ocean , and I ’m lofty Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic stubble ban , " suppose Mami Hara , general manager of Seattle Public Utilities , KOMO Newsreported last calendar month .
This means Seattle ’s legal community and eating house will have to switch charge card straw for more sustainable alternatives ( mean : theme , bamboo , and even compostable plastic ) – or they can prefer not to provide straw full stop . Any business found to be flout the ban will be present with a fine of up to $ 250 . However , functionary have assured local fellowship they will be working with business to make the transition to plastic - free as smooth as potential and have allowed exemptions for sealed items until eco - friendly alternatives are receive .
The new jurisprudence is just the latest addition to a 2008 regulation that aims to get food and drink in byplay to ditch single - use plastics and start using reclaimable or compostable substitutes . It was also under this ordinance that the metropolis introduceda tax on moldable bagsin 2012 .
While this is all good intelligence for the surround – not even theremotest regionson the planet can elude humanity ’s fixation with plastic unscathed – some are criticise the insurance policy , saying itdiscriminates against people who are disabled . There are concern that paper and crank alternatives may not always be a good alternative for people who need straws just to be able to drink independently .
" A significant number of us rely on the humble plastic straw to be able to booze a glass of water system , wine-colored or a cup of chocolate , ” Rosaleen Moriarty - Simmonds , who was born without arms and legs , tell theBBCearlier this class .
" It ’s a fundamental human right to be able to have a crapulence and to be able to drink it as and when you need to drink it , and to do it severally . "
Others are praise the move , calling it a positive first footstep in tackling the creation ’s ever - increasing plastic problem ( even if it is just a first step ) . Eight million MT ( 8.8 million tons ) of plastic trash winds its fashion into the sea every class – and , if current rate are to continue , there may bemore plastic than fishby 2050 ( that does n’t even includemicroplastics . ) It ’s not onlyaffecting maritime life story , but it ’s hurting animals on every single level of the nutrient mountain chain , in the seaandon country .
Seattle might be lead the way when it come to disposable credit card , but several other metropolis ( including New York and San Francisco ) are consider introducing a exchangeable ban . Meanwhile , across the pond where 8 billion straws are thrown away every year , the UK government has herald architectural plan to cast out the sale of plastic straws as well as drink stirrers and Q - tips ( items that arealready bannedin the UK ’s royal estates ) .
Earlier this twelvemonth , a diver highlighted the world ’s credit card problem with this footage filmed inManta Point , Nusa Penida , in Bali . Rich Horner / Youtube
