Trump Moves to Reverse Biden-Era Plastic Straw Ban

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Trump Moves to Reverse Biden-Era Plastic Straw Ban \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump announced he will sign an executive order next week reversing the Biden administration’s phaseout of plastic straws across federal agencies, declaring “BACK TO PLASTIC.” The move contradicts a broader effort to curb single-use plastics, which environmental advocates had hailed as a major milestone in fighting pollution. Critics argue that Trump’s decision will benefit the fossil fuel industry, which profits from plastic production, while increasing environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste.

Trump Reverses Biden’s Plastic Ban: Quick Looks

Trump’s Executive Order: Announces plan to reinstate plastic straws in federal operations, calling paper alternatives “ridiculous.”
Biden’s Phaseout Reversed: Biden’s plan aimed to eliminate single-use plastics in federal agencies by 2035.
Environmental Concerns: Scientists warn plastic waste is a growing crisis, with only 9% of plastic recycled globally.
Fossil Fuel Industry Benefits: Oil and gas companies profit from increased plastic production and heavily support Trump’s campaign.
Global Plastic Treaty Stalled: International talks on reducing plastic waste faced opposition from fossil fuel producers.
Cultural Divide: Plastic straws have become a symbol in the political culture wars between conservatives and environmentalists.
Potential Legal Battles: Environmental groups and Democrats may challenge the reversal through lawsuits and state-level policies.
What’s Next? Trump to sign the executive order next week, further rolling back Biden-era environmental policies.

Deep Look

Trump’s Plastic Straw Order: A Symbolic & Policy Reversal

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he will sign an executive order reinstating plastic straws in federal operations, reversing an initiative by the Biden administration aimed at reducing single-use plastics.

“I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work,” Trump wrote. “BACK TO PLASTIC.”

The Biden administration’s policy, introduced in 2023, sought to phase out single-use plastics in government food service operations by 2027 and in all federal agencies by 2035. While Trump’s order explicitly targets plastic straws, it remains unclear whether he will also roll back the entire plastics phaseout plan.

The White House has not responded to requests for clarification on whether the broader federal effort to curb plastic waste will be affected.

Biden’s Plastic Reduction Plan: A Global Milestone

The Biden administration’s plastic reduction plan was the first comprehensive strategy in U.S. history to address the growing plastic pollution crisis. It aimed to:

Reduce demand for disposable plastics in federal agencies.
Create markets for sustainable alternatives such as compostable and reusable products.
Encourage recycling innovations to reduce waste in landfills and oceans.

As the world’s largest buyer of consumer goods, the U.S. government’s decision to phase out plastics was considered a major step toward shifting global supply chains. The policy was widely praised by environmental advocates as an important milestone in reducing the over 400 million tons of plastic waste produced annually worldwide.

The Global Plastic Waste Crisis: Why It Matters

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reports that plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years, with only 9% of plastic waste being successfully recycled. Scientists estimate that one garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean every minute, posing serious environmental risks.

Health concerns over plastics have also increased. Studies have found microplastics in food, drinking water, and human bodies, raising concerns about their potential health impacts. Plastic products often contain harmful chemicals like phthalates, bisphenols, and flame retardants, which have been linked to hormone disruption and other health issues.

Trump’s Order Aligns With Fossil Fuel Industry Interests

Trump’s reversal of Biden’s plastic policy aligns with the interests of the fossil fuel industry, which heavily supports his re-election campaign. Plastics are primarily made from oil and gas, and as demand for fossil fuels declines in some sectors, major energy companies have ramped up plastic production to compensate.

In December 2023, negotiations for a global plastic-waste treaty stalled after pushback from oil and gas producers, who argued that cutting plastic consumption would harm their industry. Trump’s directive to return the federal government to plastic use is expected to increase demand, benefiting the fossil fuel sector.

Major oil and gas companies, which have donated heavily to Trump’s campaign, stand to profit significantly from his decision. Industry analysts predict that if plastic consumption continues at its current rate, plastics could account for over 50% of oil demand growth by 2050.

Plastic Straws & the Culture War

Trump’s decision to bring back plastic straws is not just a policy shift—it’s also a political statement. The plastic straw debate has become a symbol in America’s culture wars, with conservatives framing bans on them as government overreach.

During his first term, Trump repeatedly mocked paper straws and sold Trump-branded plastic straws for $15 on his campaign website, turning the issue into a rallying point against environmental regulations. In contrast, progressives have pushed for bans on single-use plastics as part of a broader effort to combat pollution and climate change.

By reviving plastic straws, Trump is tapping into a familiar political theme, positioning himself as an opponent of environmental regulations and a defender of consumer choice. His campaign rhetoric has increasingly focused on rolling back “woke” policies, and the plastics debate fits neatly into that narrative.

Potential Consequences of Trump’s Reversal

1. Increased Plastic Pollution

If Trump’s order reverses the broader plastics phaseout, it could lead to:

A higher volume of non-recyclable waste in federal operations.
Increased plastic pollution entering oceans, rivers, and landfills.
Greater reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics, undermining climate goals.

2. Strengthened Fossil Fuel Industry Influence

Trump’s move could encourage:

More lobbying by oil and gas companies to block further environmental policies.
Expansion of plastic production, increasing profits for energy companies.
Delays in global agreements to reduce plastic waste.

3. Legal & Legislative Challenges

Democrats and environmental organizations are expected to challenge Trump’s reversal through:

Congressional hearings on the environmental and economic impact.
Legal challenges citing environmental protections.
State-level policies that continue Biden’s plastic reduction plan.

Several states, including California, New York, and Washington, have already implemented their own single-use plastic bans, meaning Trump’s order may only affect federal agencies rather than the broader U.S. market.

What’s Next?

Trump is expected to sign the executive order next week, likely making it a campaign talking point.
Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers are preparing legal challenges to prevent a full rollback of the federal plastic phaseout.
The fossil fuel industry will likely ramp up lobbying efforts to expand plastic production further.

As Trump continues to dismantle Biden-era environmental policies, the fight over plastic straws is just one part of a larger political battle over climate, pollution, and industry regulation.