Heritage Explains 043: The Left's War on Plastic Straws

Cities across the country have been introducing bans on plastic straws, arguing that serious pollution problems demand local solutions. And they have a point: Plastic straws can't be recycled and they can be blown into waterways. But unfortunately straw bans may not offer a solution. Scientists have estimated that all the plastic straws littering global coastlines ... Represent less than 1% of the approximately 8 million tons of plastics that enter the oceans each year. While abandoned fishing equipment accounts for a much larger piece of the problem. Rather than waste tax dollars on straw sting operations, local officials should encourage private and nonprofit action to help clean up waste and enforce the laws that are already on the books.