Free Republic

An estimated 1.6 billion disposable masks wound up in the ocean in 2020, creating a vast pile of floating plastic waste and threatening marine life across the planet. ... The throwaway masks sent 5500 metric tonnes of plastic into the oceans, which will take up to 450 years to biodegrade ... In China, an estimated 450 million disposable masks were manufactured every day during the height of the pandemic in April 2020. The looming environmental catastrophe prompted one French ecologist to warn last year: “Soon there will be more masks than jellyfish.”

Even over a holiday weekend the Wall Street Journal delivers a little something rant worthy, even if it’s only a drink recipe. Now you would think that something as prosaic as a daiquiri would be non-controversial. And you’re probably thinking that, like a liberal, I’m going out of my way to be offended. You be the judge.It doesn’t bother me that the recipe is not for the classic daiquiri, but rather one that Jimmy Buffet would call a “frozen concoction.” The fact that it is made with an immersion blender instead of the standard bar issue Waring blender is also...

I don’t know who said it, but whoever came up with the idea that “whatever liberals don’t want to ban, they want to make mandatory,” is absolutely accurate. You name it, they’ve got a plan to force everyone to do it or to rid the world of it. Nothing is too small to escape their crosshairs, not even straws. Straws are a favorite target, the banning of which is all the rage in Democrat-controlled cities across the country. They pat themselves on the back so hard over this Jihad against straws that you’d think they were giving themselves the Heimlich...

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for...your straws? Starting July 1, the nation's capital will officially be implementing arguably Draconian fines on restaurants and bar owners as D.C.'s government will be sending out the plastic Gestapo in full force to ensure that only biodegradable straws are handed out to customers. If you get caught handing out the newly ordained contraband so that your patrons can enjoy a vodka soda or a lemonade with ease, you better be ready to pay up some cold hard cash since you are contributing to pollution according to...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WTVD) -- McDonald's worker Yasmine James remains on leave after a brawl with a customer, allegedly about a straw, was caught on camera. The viral video shows the customer, Daniel Taylor, reach over the counter and grab James by the shirt. James responded by punching Taylor several times. He is facing battery charges. James said she's not physically hurt, but emotionally scarred after being left to defend herself. "I didn't have any control over my body when he grabbed me," James said. "Like, I'm scared. Like, why are you grabbing me? I just didn't understand his intentions."...

Breaking news: Washington D.C. sucks! Fear not, local government has taken the matter into their own hands: While Washington, D.C., is the nation’s 16th most dangerous city, has the highest rate of cocaine use and the 49th worst schools, the local government is right on top of its biggest problem: single use plastic straws. In fact, the municipality will now penalize not just businesses, but also churches and other non-profits, if they hand out plastic straws or stirrers with beverages — this includes with free coffee offered as charity. – The New American As Selwyn Duke points out, the...

Insanity: Despite the fact that you could bury the world’s trash in a minuscule portion of the Earth, Left-wing environmental wackos are hell-bent on getting as many modern conveniences banned or regulated as possible. In recent months they’ve managed to convince liberal lawmakers and policymakers that plastic straws will destroy the planet if they are not banned from at least some major cities. Now these same goofballs are coming after another party favorite: Balloons.

Starbucks is going strawless. The coffee company announced Monday that it will phase out plastic straws from all of its stores by 2020. The changes will help Starbucks (SBUX) eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws per year, the company said. Plastic straws contribute to ocean pollution and pose a danger to marine life. Some governments have begun banning them. To eliminate straws, Starbucks is transitioning from the flat, plastic lids that require them, to ones that feature a raised lip you can drink from. The new designs have drawn comparisons to an adult "sippy cup." Frappuccino drinks will still...

Legendary Austin music and BBQ venue Stubb's has pledged to stop using plastic drinking straws. In a tweet, Stubb's said they would discontinue use "effective immediately" and also highlighted just how many straws Americans use in a day: We pledged to stop using plastic drinking straws. Americans use approximately 500 million straws daily. That's enough straws to circle the earth 2.5x. Effective immediately we will no longer be using straws. Join us in fighting pollution by saying 'no' to plastic drinking straws!

The European Union is proposing bans on plastic products like cotton buds, straws, stirs and balloon sticks when alternatives are easily available in an attempt to cut marine litter. The European Commission said its proposal would seek to cut marine litter in half for the ten most prominent items and avoid environmental damage estimated at over $250 billion over the next dozen years. …