Single use plastics

With great fanfare the European Union announced a phaseout of single use plastics. These are common plastic materials like utensils, straws, cups and less common items like diapers. They now want the US to follow their lead. The result will be far more wood based products and the environmental cost associated with the paper industry. The impetus for this new concern was the accumulation of plastics in the Pacific Ocean, 90% of which comes from five rivers in Africa and Asia. These countries, as they do with other environmental concerns, will offer lip service but only very long term commitments to take action.