1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The return to single-use plastic straws threatens to exacerbate the alarming levels of plastic pollution contaminating our oceans and waterways. Microplastics are pervasive, ingested by marine life and entering the food chain with dire consequences for ecosystems and human health. Paper straws provide a viable alternative that reduces this pernicious source of waste while still meeting consumer needs. A transition away from plastics is imperative to safeguard the environment and public well-being for current and future generations. I urge reconsideration of this regressive policy that disregards overwhelming scientific evidence on the harms of plastics. Sustainable solutions exist and should be embraced, not discarded in favor of perpetuating pollution and ecological degradation.