California city OKs jail time for defying plastic straw ban

[Cebu_4_2]

A California coastal city has become the latest municipality to ban plastic straws, enacting what is potentially the strictest plastic prohibition in the country.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/25/california-city-oks-jail-time-for-defying-plastic-straw-ban.html

Santa Barbara earlier this month passed the ordinance authorizing hefty fines and even a possible jail sentence for violators who dole out plastic straws at restaurants, bars and other food establishments.

More on this...

San Francisco moves to ban plastic straws, containers
Marriott hotels to eliminate plastic straws by July 2019
Starbucks, citing environment, is ditching plastic straws
According to the ordinance, violators on their first offense will be given a written warning notice. But the second time a purveyor of plastic straws defies the ban is when the heavy hand of the law could clamp down.

In that case, the ordinance cites penalties from the city’s municipal code for a “fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months.”

In comparison, Seattle, which in the beginning of July became the first major city in the U.S. to ban plastic straws, only fines businesses $250 per offense.

Fox Business Outlook: Coffee giant to eliminate plastic straws from their 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020.
It’s unlikely the maximum penalties would be imposed in Santa Barbara, but Assistant City Attorney Scott Vincent told Reason.com that criminal charges would be pursued after repeat violations and if there were aggravating circumstances.

The Santa Barbara ordinance, which goes into effect in 2019, was supported by all but one city council member and comes at a time of growing concern over the problems that plastics cause for marine life.

Santa Barbara bore a “trifecta of responsibility,” said Councilmember Kristen Sneddon, the Santa Barbara Independent reported, noting the city’s location along the coast, affluent population and status as a tourist destination.

While the ban does have a few exceptions, it does not include one that many other municipalities have added: an exemption for the disabled.

“All things considered, this new ordinance isn’t going to be making a real dent in the problem it’s intended to solve — but it could create some harm,” Katherine Timpf wrote in the National Review, adding that “straw bans could end up having a negative impact on disabled people who cannot drink without them.”

The city joined a growing list of municipalities and private businesses to ditch the use of plastic straws.

Environmental advocates claim the billions of plastic straws Americans use every year are harmful to nature, and should be eliminated. Many restaurants are now supplying straws only by request, eliminating them entirely.#Tucker
Coffee giant Starbucks made headlines earlier in July when it became the largest food and beverage company operating globally that will ban plastic straws from all its stores within two years amid environmental concerns. Plastic straws, which Americans use 500 million of daily, still are not a top contributor to the 8 million tons of plastic trash that flow into the world’s oceans yearly, according to National Geographic.

Starbucks was quickly joined by Marriott International and American Airlines.

On Tuesday, the board of supervisors in California’s second-largest city, San Francisco, gave unanimous approval to a measure banning plastic straws alongside carryout containers and wrappers treated with fluorinated chemicals.

Supervisor Katy Tang called the negative environmental impact of single-use plastics astronomical.

"San Francisco has been a pioneer of environmental change, and it's time for us to find alternatives to the plastic that is choking our marine ecosystems and littering our streets," she said in a statement.

The legislation requires a second approval, which is expected next week, and the ban would go into effect July 1, 2019, along with a new requirement to make napkins, utensils and other to-go accessories available only upon request, unless a self-serve station is available where people can take what they need.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated that plastic straws were the top contributor to plastic trash in the world's oceans.

[latemetal1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw

[Cebu_4_2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw

Poor guy but it didn't look like a plastic straw to me. I can't see body parts attaching themselves to plastic.

[latemetal1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRiTABRQOjk More plastic.

[Cebu_4_2]

And why does the turtle sinus grow on it?

[Hitch]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRiTABRQOjk More plastic.

Thanks, latemetal, for getting this message out. Yup, more plastic.

Figured most folks on this forum should be anti plastic by now, not just for the environment and nature, but also because of what it does to your own testosterone levels as well.

Cebu is a good example of a plastic induced low test zombie, a product of our current society, who sells himself out for a .gov paycheck to profile us all.

[Cebu_4_2]

Cebu is a good example of a plastic induced low test zombie, a product of our current society, who sells himself out for a .gov paycheck to profile us all.

Meet me anywhere tough man Peter Tomkins... Take you out like the morning dew.

[Cebu_4_2]

I'm all full of fun Peter, want to fuck with me?

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/08/07/tug-boat-crew-gets-video-of-shark-on-sf-bay/

[Cebu_4_2]

Be great to meet you in person so I can show you what you call low testosterone is all about, big boy. So much for a handshake like a few months ago.

[EE_]

Fucking Chinese and Indonesia are the major violators

https://assets.change.org/photos/4/ma/fp/YiMafPLNeQmRjJA-800x450-noPad.jpg?1509758187

San Francisco bans straws, but supplies these

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/41/45/36/8804229/21/920x1240.jpg
https://www.usnews.com/cmsmedia/50/90ea384ed944c2a9c4385a75a70f88/media:beab44cd0f1544a7952d78cc3b7af381SanFrancisco TentCity.JPEG

[EE_]

If this keeps up, soon California shores will look like this

https://cdn.slidesharecdn.com/ss_thumbnails/garbageisland-161113141453-thumbnail-4.jpg?cb=1479047190

[Hitch]

If this keeps up, soon California shores will look lie this

The good news is that we are finally doing something about it, to start cleaning up our oceans of plastic and other garbage. This one non profit org raised 40 million in donations.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-Ocean-Cleanup-environmental-ocean-plastic-12848731.php#photo-15272829

It could take as little as 5 years to clean up the whole pacific garbage patch.

[osoab]

The good news is that we are finally doing something about it, to start cleaning up our oceans of plastic and other garbage. This one non profit org raised 40 million in donations.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-Ocean-Cleanup-environmental-ocean-plastic-12848731.php#photo-15272829

It could take as little as 5 years to clean up the whole pacific garbage patch.

How much do the directors of the NPO make?

[Hitch]

How much do the directors of the NPO make?

Not sure, but the CEO and founder is a 23 year old young guy. At least he wants to use technology to better the world. That org is based in Holland. There's another NPO based solely in California that's trying to do the same thing, but for the life of me, I can't seem to find the link to them. If I can find it, I will.

[Hitch]

I'm all full of fun Peter, want to fuck with me?

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/08/07/tug-boat-crew-gets-video-of-shark-on-sf-bay/

You got the wrong guy, that is not me.

I wasn't going to say anything, because it doesn't really matter...but then I realized, it does matter. Free speech matters.

This type of profiling really is the death of free speech. Cebu, is doing the exact same thing that the media is doing to Trump, and it is to silence people he doesn't agree with. This forum sadly has died in that way.

I am grateful that Cebu does actually really suck at profiling members here. I figure if he got me all wrong, I wouldn't trust a thing he says on here about anyone else. But, that's my opinion, if my opinion matters.

[SockPuppet]

Not sure, but the CEO and founder is a 23 year old young guy. At least he wants to use technology to better the world. That org is based in Holland. There's another NPO based solely in California that's trying to do the same thing, but for the life of me, I can't seem to find the link to them. If I can find it, I will.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...

[Neuro]

Not sure, but the CEO and founder is a 23 year old young guy. At least he wants to use technology to better the world. That org is based in Holland. There's another NPO based solely in California that's trying to do the same thing, but for the life of me, I can't seem to find the link to them. If I can find it, I will.

It is funny though this “plastic in the ocean” was not much of an issue until about a year or two ago, and now we are bombarded with it every day on social and mainstream media. The last month I went to beaches of the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and I didn’t see any plastics at all. These NPO’s spend their money on creating awareness on this ”problem”... Why is that? Misdirecting peoples attention? Or is it just a cynical way for the founders and directors of these orgs to earn money? Or is it a huge problem really?

Here is a challenge, find a plastic wrap in the ocean that is 30 years old... Shouldn’t be too difficult as they tell us that plastic in the oceans are virtually indestructible, and takes at least thousands of years to be broken down. Most product wraps have been redesigned the last 30 years so an old one should be easy to distinguish from a new.

[Hitch]

It is funny though this “plastic in the ocean” was not much of an issue until about a year or two ago, and now we are bombarded with it every day on social and mainstream media. The last month I went to beaches of the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and I didn’t see any plastics at all. These NPO’s spend their money on creating awareness on this ”problem”... Why is that? Misdirecting peoples attention? Or is it just a cynical way for the founders and directors of these orgs to earn money? Or is it a huge problem really?

Here is a challenge, find a plastic wrap in the ocean that is 30 years old... Shouldn’t be too difficult as they tell us that plastic in the oceans are virtually indestructible, and takes at least thousands of years to be broken down. Most product wraps have been redesigned the last 30 years so an old one should be easy to distinguish from a new.

Hi Neuro, a plastic bag or plastic wrap will dissolve in the water and disappear in about 10-20 years. A two litter bottle may take 100 years though.

Like you, the beaches where I live are spotless. There's no plastic on the beach or in the water. Most of the trash on beaches, especially third world places, is local. People just dumping garbage, or worse, taking shits right on the sand.

The biggest problem, is those "garbage patches" at sea, where the currents sort of contain the trash that has been discarded in one rather large area. The good news, is over the last several years this problem is being reversed. There is a huge amount of awareness about the damage plastics cause, and recycling plastics has become the new social norm. Plastics are not a problem if they are recycled properly. Plus, mariners all over the world have adopted the same set of training and standards for safely at sea (SOLAS). This includes awareness and the restriction on dumping plastics into our oceans.

Aside from third world shitholes, protecting and cleaning up our oceans has made a lot of progress forward. The future is looking bright, imo, regarding this issue. The next step, is to get out there and clean up those garbage patches in the ocean. It would be great if this 23 old kid's idea would work. There is a lot of big money being donated to ideas like this, from companies such as Apple, Tesla, etc.

[osoab]

This infographic is ridiculous in my opinion. Look at the estimated size noted over the Central US area.

Where did all this garbage originate? It is normal for the West to just dump out to sea? Makes more sense that the vast majority originated from East Asia.

I like the decomposition rates noted below. It's like seawater and sunlight have no affect on decay.

https://thumbnails-visually.netdna-ssl.com/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch_51eff7d49055a_w1500.png

[osoab]

Hi Neuro, a plastic bag or plastic wrap will dissolve in the water and disappear in about 10-20 years. A two litter bottle may take 100 years though.


2 Liter bottles haven't been around 100 years.

[Hitch]

2 Liter bottles haven't been around 100 years.

The point is...they are made today, and in a 100 years from now they will still be around floating in our oceans, unless we do something about it.

[osoab]

Not sure, but the CEO and founder is a 23 year old young guy. At least he wants to use technology to better the world. That org is based in Holland. There's another NPO based solely in California that's trying to do the same thing, but for the life of me, I can't seem to find the link to them. If I can find it, I will.


The Ocean Cleanup (https://www.theoceancleanup.com/) is ran by the 23 year old. You can make donations through these guys if you are in the States. Netherland America Foundation (http://thenaf.org/) They look shady.


The NAF is the leading bilateral foundation promoting high-impact exchanges between the Netherlands and the United States.

Offering NAF-Fulbright Fellowships, Study Loans, Programs in the Arts, Sciences, Business, Public Affairs and Historic Preservation



Fullbright?


HISTORY

The NAF was founded by visionary leaders in 1921. Edward Bok, celebrated publisher of the Ladies’ Home Journal, served as its first president. Bok and his colleagues – including Franklin D. Roosevelt – were determined to build the NAF into an activist organization.
Business, government and academic leaders served as presidents, among them: Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM; the Hon. William C. Redfield, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Dr. A.J. Barnouw, Queen Wilhelmina Professor at Columbia University.




It is funny though this “plastic in the ocean” was not much of an issue until about a year or two ago, and now we are bombarded with it every day on social and mainstream media. The last month I went to beaches of the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and I didn’t see any plastics at all. These NPO’s spend their money on creating awareness on this ”problem”... Why is that? Misdirecting peoples attention? Or is it just a cynical way for the founders and directors of these orgs to earn money? Or is it a huge problem really?

Here is a challenge, find a plastic wrap in the ocean that is 30 years old... Shouldn’t be too difficult as they tell us that plastic in the oceans are virtually indestructible, and takes at least thousands of years to be broken down. Most product wraps have been redesigned the last 30 years so an old one should be easy to distinguish from a new.

I haven't found any consistent images or sizes of said patch. That infographic above has it a 0.41% to 8.1% of the Pacific. What?

The Ocean Cleanup has a lot of front end office listed. Not a lot of backbone as I see it. The whole thing seems like a PR stunt with a tinge of money laundering.

[Neuro]

The Ocean Cleanup (https://www.theoceancleanup.com/) is ran by the 23 year old. You can make donations through these guys if you are in the States. Netherland America Foundation (http://thenaf.org/) They look shady.



Fullbright?





I haven't found any consistent images or sizes of said patch. That infographic above has it a 0.41% to 8.1% of the Pacific. What?

The Ocean Cleanup has a lot of front end office listed. Not a lot of backbone as I see it. The whole thing seems like a PR stunt with a tinge of money laundering.

Further it is in the Middle of the ocean and supposedly it is constantly moving so you can’t locate it, you can’t even see it on satellite images. To me this smells... bad!

[osoab]

Further it is in the Middle of the ocean and supposedly it is constantly moving so you can’t locate it, you can’t even see it on satellite images. To me this smells... bad!

Well, there are no satellites out over the Pacific so that part is not smelly.

[cheka.]

http://82.221.129.208/undercoverstraw.jpg

[Neuro]

http://82.221.129.208/undercoverstraw.jpg

Reminds me when they banned light bulbs and this entrepreneur started selling them as heating elements. LOL

[Cebu_4_2]

Reminds me when they banned light bulbs and this entrepreneur started selling them as heating elements. LOL

Can't get fuck for regular bulbs that last longer than a day except garage door opener bulbs.

[Neuro]

Some genius at Starbucks thought it was prudent to reduce plastic waste by selling paper straws instead...
https://images1-focus-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fikwiz%2Ecom%3A5301%2Fresize %3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnoiimages%252Es3%252Ea mazonaws%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fredstate%252F20180 730440156713%252Ejpg%26width%3D800%26height%3D420% 26option%3Dcrop%26darken%3D0%26blur%3D0&container=focus

http://www.redstatewatcher.com/article.asp?id=132844

[keehah]

Surprise surprise?

Paper straw brands tested contain toxic fluoride.
PFAS compounds are synthetic organofluorine chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain

tandfonline.com: Research Article: Assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available drinking straws using targeted and suspect screening approaches (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19440049.2023.2240908)

24 Aug 2023
In order to make these materials water-repellent, PFAS are added during manufacturing but can also already be present early in the supply chain due to the use of contaminated raw materials. In the present study, we examined the PFAS concentrations in 39 different brands of straws, made from five materials (i.e. paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic) commercially available on the Belgian market. We combined both targeted and suspect-screening approaches to evaluate a wide range of PFAS. PFAS were found to be present in almost all types of straws, except for those made of stainless steel. PFAS were more frequently detected in plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo. We did not observe many differences between the types of materials, or the continents of origin. 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...

Their unique water-repellent and fire-resistant properties, as well as their thermal and chemical stability, ensure that these organic compounds are produced and used on a large industrial scale for various applications. However, most PFAS barely break down and are both accumulative and potentially toxic to humans, animals, and the environment (EEA Citation2022).

Intake through food and drinking water are the main routes of general human exposure to PFAS...

By drinking through such straws, humans may ingest a so far undetermined amount of PFAS. As a study on PFAS in plant-based straws has never been explored in Europe before..

PFAS were detected in almost all paper-based straws, with highly variable concentrations between brands, ranging from < LOQ to 7.15 ng/g...

Finally, three out of four plastic straw brands contained quantifiable PFAS concentrations, ranging from < LOQ to 0.924 ng/g...

Our study confirmed that straws might be an exposure route of TFA and TFMS which might result in increased exposure to PFAS for humans and subsequent potential toxic effects...

Plant-based straws marketed as eco-friendly alternatives are as such not necessarily more sustainable for the planet than plastics, because they may contribute to the current prominent PFAS pollution issues (Langberg et al. Citation2020; Helmer et al. Citation2022). Plant-based FCMs, particularly those made of paper, are supposed to be recyclable products, but will most likely end up in landfills or be incinerated, releasing PFAS further into the environment (Monge Brenes et al. Citation2019; Masoner et al. Citation2020; Stoiber et al. Citation2020).

epa.gov: Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk (https://www.epa.gov/pfas/meaningful-and-achievable-steps-you-can-take-reduce-your-risk)

Steps You Can Take to Reduce Risk from Consumer Products Containing PFAS

Consumer Products: Even though recent efforts to remove certain PFAS from commerce have reduced the likelihood of exposure, some household products and indoor air or dust may still contain PFAS.
Indoor air and house dust? wtf epa?

[keehah]

Will the Democrat and WEF type p&d staffers now again do their 'settled science' thing and offer more jail time diktat for those trying to avoid previous jail time diktat?

consumerreports.org: Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging (https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/dangerous-pfas-chemicals-are-in-your-food-packaging-a3786252074/)

March 24, 2022
These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” can be found not only in nonstick pans and waterproof gear but also in the grease-resistant packaging that holds your food from takeout chains and supermarkets. Packaging made with PFAS often resembles paper or cardboard—a seemingly virtuous alternative to plastic...

In recent decades, PFAS exposure has been linked to a growing list of problems, including immune system suppression, lower birth weight, and increased risk for some cancers. This raises alarms about the use of these compounds, especially in items such as burger wrappers and salad bowls...

Scientists and regulators are still debating what level of organic fluorine indicates intentional use. California has banned intentionally added PFAS; starting in January 2023, paper food packaging must have less than 100 parts per million organic fluorine. Denmark has settled on 20 ppm as that threshold. CR’s experts support the 20-ppm limit.

“If they can get to 100 ppm, they should be able to get to 20 ppm,” Peaslee says. “Lower is always the ultimate goal.”

CR tested multiple samples of 118 products and calculated average organic fluorine levels for each. Overall, CR detected that element in more than half the food packaging tested. Almost a third—37 products—had organic fluorine levels above 20 ppm, and 22 were above 100 ppm.
consumerreports.org: To Reduce PFAS Levels in Food, Cook at Home (https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/to-reduce-pfas-levels-in-food-cook-at-home/)

October 09, 2019
People who frequently eat meals prepared at home have lower levels of PFAS chemicals in their blood compared to those who often eat fast food, takeout, or restaurant meals, according to a new study (https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/EHP4092) published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

...At high levels of exposure, some have been linked to serious health problems, such as cancer, high cholesterol levels, obesity, thyroid disease, weakened immune system response, decreased fertility, and growth and learning delays in babies and children...

The clearest finding from the new research, Schaider says, is that people who dined at home the most had lower levels of PFAS. For every 100 calories of non-restaurant food eaten at home, blood levels of five types of PFAS were 0.32 percent lower...

When people eat out, their food may be more likely to come into contact with PFAS-containing boxes and wrappings, according to Schaider, and those chemicals could be migrating into food, according to this study and previous research. The foods people eat while dining out could potentially be more likely to contain PFAS, she says...

Companies that make food packaging have been moving away from using PFAS over the past few years, says Peaslee. But even if burger wrappers and pizza boxes are becoming less likely to be a source of PFAS, some newer types of food packaging may still be problematic. For example, this year, in partnership with The New Food Economy, a nonprofit news website focused on food, Peaslee tested a number of supposedly eco-friendly compostable bowls that restaurants have started to use in an effort to move away from plastics. All of those bowls contained PFAS...

Industry representatives say that these newer PFAS chemicals are safe. "New FluoroTechnology products are based on different chemistry, and this new chemistry has a favorable health and safety profile," Rob Simon, a spokesman for the FluoroCouncil, previously told CR. FluoroCouncil representatives did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

But many scientists are not convinced. "What we're finding out about the other [newer] compounds isn't good," says Davies. Data indicates newer PFAS chemicals stay in the human body for weeks or months instead of years—as the older chemicals do—but that's still long enough for them to accumulate at worrying levels, according to Schaider.