In the last year, straw activism has taken off, with many businesses taking steps toward phasing them out. The media has picked up this movement as celebrities, such as Tom Brady, and large corporations, like Starbucks, have taken action towards reducing the use of plastic straws. Advocates have discussed following the plastic bag movement in which a county taxes those who choose to use any plastic bags at retail locations, hoping to create the same outcome through the taxing of plastic straws. Many, however, worry about convenience and how taxing straws could work in practice. A small charge has helped people move away from plastic shopping bags, so why not the same approach for straws?

Reached the Sipping Point

By Anjali Verma ’20

As the climate change movement broadens, the focus on the effect of plastic, especially plastic straws, has been emphasized, and rightfully so. Plastic straws are very difficult to recycle and many that make it to recycling centers do not get recycled. Straws are used in colossal excess, ending up in landfills or oceans for decades without biodegrading. Plastic straws carry an average use of 20 minutes or less, but then continue to spend hundreds of years flooding the Earth. 

Not only do plastic straws threaten marine life, but they also carry health hazards to humans. Many marine animals mistake these straws for food, causing them physical injuries and even death due to suffocation. Many plastics also contain harmful chemicals that can create health problems in humans. This cycle is tragic, for many people eating seafood do not realize the dangers they can consume through eating animals that have previously ingested plastic. 

Even those against the taxing of plastic straws can find other alternative ways to use straws and be environmentally conscious. Straws made of glass, cardboard, paper, and metal are just a few examples of alternatives. Many of these straws are reusable, meaning that though they cost more that a 5-cent tax, they will eventually be worth essentially nothing compared to that of the plastic straw tax. 

Though consumers carry a large impact in the future of plastic straws and their effect on the environment, large businesses and corporations produce and distribute these straws from restaurants all the way to stadiums. Large businesses and corporations will be forced to change through this tax. The only way to ensure a long-lasting solution and a major change in this issue is to enforce legislation. The 5-cent tax on plastic straws is this solution. 

A Tax Would be the Last Straw

By Christianna Tran ’20

Although the environment conversation is vital and plastic waste in the ocean must be limited, adding a 5-cent tax on plastic straws is not the correct way to do so. In fact, plastic straws are not a major source of marine pollution. According to a 2016 study done by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. However, only four to seven percent of that pollution is due to plastic straws. 

People also do not truly consider the benefits of plastic straws. For example, those with certain disabilities and health issues require straws in order to drink comfortably. Disabled people may not have the strength to hold a cup up or their motor skills may not allow them to keep from shaking. This proposed tax would majorly inconvenience those who require straws.

Many people propose alternative options such as paper. However, this option creates more of a carbon footprint in production than it takes to produce plastic straws. Reusable straw options can create major issues. Not only are they less accessible than plastic straws, they can be a great place for bacteria if not cleaned out properly.

Businesses may also have issues with a plastic straw tax especially since certain places require straws to sell their products. For instance, boba tea and smoothie shops need wider straws in order to drink their beverages. A 5-cent straw tax can become an inconvenience for business owners and customers of stores like these. 

The proposal for 5-cent tax on plastic straws may be a good idea in theory but with more research, data shows that it can cause more unintended issues without really solving the environmental concern.