Florida's Straw Struggle: Paper vs. Plastic and the PFAS Problem

Florida is in the middle of a big debate about straws. Some people think paper straws are better for the environment. But now, there's a new problem: paper straws might not be as safe as we thought. A new bill in Florida wants to stop cities and towns from making their own rules about straws. The bill says that if they do make rules, they have to be based on science. It also says that any straws they allow must be able to break down easily in nature. The problem is that many paper straws have something called PFAS in them. PFAS are chemicals that can be bad for our health. A study found that most paper straws have these chemicals. They are used to make the straws waterproof, but they might not be safe.If this bill becomes a law, cities and towns will have until 2027 to change their straw rules. But some people are not happy about this. They think it's important to protect the environment, and they're not sure if plastic straws are the best answer. This isn't the first time straws have been in the news. The former President Donald Trump also talked about this issue. He said that paper straws are not as good as plastic ones. He even made a rule to stop using paper straws in government buildings. In other news, New Jersey is thinking about a new rule for restaurants. They want to stop giving out single-use utensils and condiments unless customers ask for them. This is to help reduce waste and protect the environment.