Donald Trump vows to ‘go back to plastic’ by ditching paper straw

Donald Trump plans to end what he calls the ‘the ridiculous Biden push for paper straws‘. Writing on Truth Social, the US president vowed to go ‘back to plastic’, by signing an executive order that cancels the Democrats’ initiative to phase out single-use plastics within government departments, including straws. Posting yesterday, he said: ‘I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. ‘BACK TO PLASTIC!’.

Trump previously criticised efforts to ban plastic straws – which are not recyclable – and introduce environmentally friendlier paper alternatives during his 2020 campaign trail. ‘Has anyone tried those paper straws?’ he said at the time. ‘They’re not working too good,’ adding that the paper ‘disintegrated’ before you could finish your drink. He also pointed out that the paper straws are sometimes wrapped in plastic.

‘The paper straws come wrapped in cellophane, do you ever see this? I mean, what’s going on?’ he remarked. Trump’s campaign team even began selling their own plastic straws with his name emblazoned on them. The Joe Biden administration had given the federal government another 25 years to phase out single-use plastics. ‘Plastic production and waste have doubled over the past two decades, littering our ocean, poisoning the air of communities near production facilities, and threatening public health,’ a White House fact sheet stated.

Americans use an estimated 500 million plastic straws a day. Some eateries have voluntarily ditched the plastic variety for the paper versions, or got rid of straws altogether. And several states have issued bans on plastic straws, including New York, California, Maine, Vermont and Washington. Aside from their tendency to disintegrate when used, there has also been a study claiming paper straws could be a serious health risk.

The study found ‘forever chemicals’ in the paper that can take thousands of years to break down and have been linked to cancers, thyroid and liver problems. Researchers studied 39 different brands of straw and found that 90 per cent of the paper ones contained chemicals known as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Responding to Trump’s post, several people said they use metal straws instead of plastic or paper versions.

One wrote: ‘There are reusable metal straws which are so much better than plastic straws, don’t bend or break. Keep some in your car and you’ll never have to use paper ones either. Don’t add more rubbish into the sea please.’. Single use plastic straws, along with plastic cotton buds and drink stirrers, have been banned in England since October 2020. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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