Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on February 10th aimed at ending the procurement and mandatory use of paper straws, asserting that plastic alternatives pose no significant threat to marine life.
The order, described by the White House as a step toward “common sense,” specifically targets what Trump has referred to as the “irrational” campaign against plastic straws. In a statement, the president declared that paper straws, which have been promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, are ineffective and inconvenient.
“These things don’t work. I’ve had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode. If something’s hot, they don’t last very long,” Trump said during the signing ceremony at the White House. “It’s a ridiculous situation. So we’re going back to plastic straws. I think it’s okay.”
Trump’s decision to roll back restrictions on plastic straws comes amid increasing global concerns over the environmental impact of single-use plastics. Despite the push for alternatives, the president remains unconvinced that plastic straws contribute significantly to ocean pollution or harm marine life.
“I don’t think that plastic is going to affect sharks very much, as they’re munching their way through the ocean,” Trump remarked, referencing the ongoing debate about the effects of plastic pollution on ocean ecosystems.
Environmental groups, however, have long warned about the dangers posed by plastic waste in the oceans. The Pacific Whale Foundation’s “Last Straw” initiative highlights that single-use plastics, including drinking straws, are one of the leading contributors to marine pollution. The foundation reports that the United States alone discards approximately 500 million straws daily, a number that is enough to wrap around the Earth 2.5 times each day.
While Trump’s remarks on sharks may downplay the threat to certain marine species, the environmental community continues to emphasize the wider risks plastic pollution poses to vulnerable marine animals, particularly sea turtles and other creatures that mistake plastic debris for food.
As the debate over plastic versus paper straws intensifies, President Trump’s executive order signals a clear shift in U.S. policy regarding environmental practices, prioritizing convenience and practicality over environmental concerns in this instance.
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