For years, environmental activists have campaigned strongly against plastic straws, labelling them as a symbol of the broader plastic pollution crisis. Picture: Pexels/Christopher
In a controversial move that has reignited the debate over plastic pollution, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order promoting the use of traditional plastic drinking straws.
Speaking to reporters, he remarked, “We're going back to plastic straws... These things (paper straws) don't work, I've had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode.”
He further expressed distaste for paper straws, claiming they are unreliable when handling hot beverages, remarking that they can disintegrate in mere minutes, adding that he can’t imagine plastic straws bothering sharks as they “munch through the ocean”.
Trump’s action are in direct opposition to preceding efforts aimed at reducing single-use plastics, especially amid growing environmental concerns regarding their impact on marine life.
This order sets back the hard work of these environmentalists who for years have campaigned strongly against plastic straws, labelling them as a symbol of the broader plastic pollution crisis.
Plastic straws, they say, can take centuries to decompose.
A staple at eateries and parties, these accessories often wind up in oceans and waterways, where they pose a dire threat to wildlife. Fish and birds may ingest these straws, mistaking them for food, leading to potential harm or even death and often times they end up on our plates via a fish that ingested them.
Yet, in a naturally contrasting view, President Trump dismissed these concerns as he signed the order on February 10, asserting that the environmental impact of plastic straws is “entirely debatable.”
This executive order represents a significant reversal of a policy set by Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, who had targeted the elimination of single-use plastic utensils across government agencies by 2035. Instead, Trump's administration is reinforcing the notion that consumer dissatisfaction with alternatives like paper straws necessitates a return to plastic.
Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, supported the president's stance, arguing that many American consumers express discontent with paper options. “Our customers are wildly dissatisfied with their straws,” Scharf stated, aligning with Trump’s push for traditional plastic straws.
Trump’s executive order is just one of many he has signed since his return to the White House, underscoring a persistent narrative of prioritising economic growth and fossil fuel pursuits over environmental reforms.
Since resuming office, he has aggressively championed oil drilling and previously withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement, actions that have raised alarms among environmentalists.
In his Monday order, he instructed agency officials to stop buying paper straws and make sure paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings.
He also directed officials to create a national strategy to stop using paper straws within 45 days.