The war on plastic straws is growing as more companies like McDonald’s face pressure to find sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives that won’t pollute our oceans, litter our beaches or harm animals. It is estimated that more than 500 million single-use plastic straws are used and thrown away every day in the U.S. alone as Americans use them at an average rate of 1.6 straws per person per day. It’s no wonder that sea turtles are being found with plastic straws stuck up their noses. Only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling and 32% of plastic packaging escapes collection systems.
A study found that 8 million tons of plastic trash end up in our oceans every year. And while plastic straws represent only a part of the overall tonnage of ocean plastic, they are less likely to make it into recycling bins for their small size, which makes them dangerous for marine animals and are consumed by fish.
This has led environmentalists and conservation groups to add plastic straws to the growing list of plastic products it is seeking to ban or tax in an attempt to reduce plastic waste. The United Kingdom announced plans in April to ban the sale of plastic straws as the global war against plastic pollution gains popularity.
Straws are not really needed when drinking so simply. Refusing a straw is the most eco-friendly choice a person can make. But if you need to use or like to use a straw, there are alternatives. “There are plenty of choices for trash-free sipping. We all have a drawer of reusable silverware at home, so why not use a few reusable straws?” Nick Mallos, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program, said.
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