Trump Ends Paper Straw Rule, Brings Back Plastic Straws

 

US President Donald Trump has signed an order to stop the government from replacing plastic straws with paper ones.

This decision reverses a rule from former President Joe Biden, who wanted to reduce plastic pollution.

Trump, who sold plastic straws during his 2020 campaign, has criticized paper straws, saying they "don't work" and fall apart quickly.

"We're going back to plastic straws," Trump told reporters at the White House. "Paper straws break, explode, and don't last with hot drinks. It's ridiculous."

Biden had planned to phase out plastic straws, cutlery, and packaging in government purchases by 2027. His policy aimed to reduce single-use plastics in federal operations by 2035.

Trump’s new order stops government agencies from buying paper straws and calls for a plan to remove them nationwide.

In 2020, Trump’s campaign made nearly $500,000 selling plastic straws with his name on them.

Some US states and cities, including California, Oregon, and New Jersey, have rules limiting plastic straws, requiring businesses to provide them only if customers ask.

The UN says 460 million metric tonnes of plastic are made each year, much of which pollutes oceans and harms health.

However, some studies have found that paper straws contain harmful chemicals called PFAS, which can pollute water and cause health problems.