A new study by the South Korean government found plastic straws are better for the environment than paper ones.
Researchers analyzed the environmental impact of four kinds of straws across 16 categories, according to The Korea Herald. They found that paper straws had 6.33 times the carcinogenic impact of conventional plastic straws and had double the acidification impact.
Although paper straws are often promoted as recyclable, researchers also found that all straws are difficult to recycle, regardless of material.
Palo Alto City Council made headlines in 2019 for banning plastic straws. The crusade against straws was spurred by a Girl Scout troop that brought to a council meeting pictures of turtles with straws in their noses. The girls told council that 500 million straws are used each day in the United States and are among the top 10 marine debris items found on beaches.
Council voted unanimously in favor of banning plastic straws.
“I hope that this is going to make a difference for us as a community and for us, frankly, as a country,” said then-councilwoman Liz Kniss.
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