On Monday, former President Donald Trump banned paper straws within federal agencies, saying that they “don’t work” and do not have a shelf life equal to plastic ones. Trump signed an executive order that will reverse the policy that encouraged the use of paper straws and put restrictions on the purchase of plastic ones by federal agencies. According to the order, federal buildings must stop using and distributing paper straws.
It was a direct assault on a policy launched by the Biden administration aimed at phasing out single-use plastics, which include straws, in federal operations by 2035. Trump declared that the Biden policy was “DEAD!” via a weekend social media post.
Despite the growing environmental awareness of the devastating effects plastic straws are causing to marine life, Trump assured the public that he believes it is acceptable to continue to use plastic straws since “I don’t think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re munching their way through the ocean.”
While some states and cities have banned plastic straws, those made by Trump have raised vehement criticism from those groups, like Oceana. According to Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director of Oceana, “this is more about messaging than finding solutions,” citing the need to address this global plastic pollution crisis. Plastics Industry Association, on the other hand, welcomed the decision of Trump. “Straws are just the beginning,” said association’s CEO Matt Seaholm.
In the U.S., more than 390 million straws are used daily, mostly for just 30 minutes. Advocacy groups point out that straws, which take 200 years to decompose, are a major environmental threat, especially to marine life.
