Trump Pledges to Reverse Biden’s Paper Straw Ban

Clear Facts

• President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to reverse the Biden administration’s push for paper straws.
• The Biden administration aimed to phase out single-use plastics as part of efforts to combat plastic pollution.
• A study found that paper straws contain more “forever chemicals” compared to plastic straws.

In a bold move, President Donald Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order next week, aiming to put an end to what he calls the federal government’s “ridiculous” push for paper straws. This decision comes in response to the Biden administration’s previous initiative to phase out single-use plastic items, including straws, in federal departments as part of its environmental agenda.

Trump took to Truth Social to express his stance, writing, “I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!”

The shift towards paper straws has been embraced by various establishments, such as restaurants and cafes, in an effort to protect the environment. However, a 2023 Belgian study revealed that paper straws might not be as eco-friendly as once thought. The study found that paper straws contain higher levels of perfluoroalkylate and polyfluoroalkylate substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

“PFAS were more frequently detected in plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo,” the study’s authors noted. They further explained, “The presence of PFAS in plant-based straws shows that they are not necessarily biodegradable and that the use of such straws potentially contributes to human and environmental exposure of PFAS.”

While Trump’s forthcoming executive order is poised to make waves, its impact on state laws and business practices remains uncertain. States like California and New Jersey have already implemented bans on single-use plastics, requiring restaurants to provide plastic straws only upon customer request.

Trump’s stance on paper straws is likely to resonate with conservative Americans. The Biden administration’s crackdown on plastic straws faced criticism from Republican lawmakers. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) remarked, “The world’s on fire and [Biden’s] worried about plastic forks.”

Rounds acknowledged the environmental concerns associated with plastics but expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a plastic ban. “Look, I certainly understand that plastics are a pollutant, we need to do a better job with it,” he said. “But I’m a little bit hesitant to say that this plastic ban will be a good thing.”

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) offered a different perspective, suggesting that the government should reduce its size to lessen its environmental impact. “They should shrink the government if they want it to be less of a consumer,” he stated. “The reason it’s the largest consumer is because … it employs so many people, and it’s doing so many things it was probably never intended to do.”

As Trump prepares to take executive action, the debate over the environmental impact of paper versus plastic straws continues to unfold.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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