A campaign to eliminate plastic straws is sucking in thousands of converts

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

A campaign to eliminate plastic straws is sucking in thousands of converts

It started so innocently. A kid ordered a soda in a restaurant.

“It came with a plastic straw in it,” Milo Cress recalled. He glared at the straw for a while. “It seemed like such a waste.”

Not only did Cress yank the plastic from his drink, but he also launched a campaign, “Be Straw Free,” targeting all straws as needless pollution. He knocked on the doors of restaurants in Burlington, Vt., where he lived at the time, and asked managers not to offer straws unless patrons asked. He was 9 years old.

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Straws are among the most common plastic items volunteers clean from beaches, along with bottles, bags and cups, conservationists say. Americans use half a billion straws every day, at least according to an estimate by Be Straw Free, based on information from straw manufacturers. That many straws could wrap around the Earth 2½ times.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-campaign-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-is-sucking-in-thousands-of-converts/2017/06/24/d53f70cc-4c5a-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html

[rickford66]

1. We used to have paper straws.

[procon]

2. I switched to stainless steel drinking straws a couple of years ago.

I didn't know about this campaign at that time, but I made a conscious decision based on economics, the wastefulness and the environmental impact of throwing more plastic into landfills. Reusable products just make a lot of sense. The SS straws come in a straight version, and one that I prefer has a built-in angled bend. They are easy to clean with just a swish in hot soapy water, or they can go in the dishwasher. They also have the added benefit of being strong enough to stir your drink. Now that I've used them, I wouldn't go back to plastic straws.

The only one who wasn't happy with the change was our cat. He loved playing with plastic straws and I've found them under the sofa, all the kitchen appliances, and even in the linen closet where he likes to nap whenever I forget the close the door.

[WePurrsevere]

3. Ditch petroleum based plastic ones yes, but switch...

They still make straws from paper & they're also making them from 'corn plastic' which is biodegradable & earth friendly. (There might be other 'friendly' options if you dig more than I did.)

For some people straws are a truly helpful tool so if we could combine people asking for one and switching to ones that are safer for the environment and critters perhaps that would be a decent option.

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. But Sarah Palin DEMANDS them!

Or she won't come to give a speech. And not just any straws!

Bendy Straws!

[kristopher]

5. Poor critter...