Straws are currently under fire for being a main contributor to ocean pollution. But, straws only make up four percent of the ocean’s pollution, based on space, not weight. This misconception has lead to an entire movement that has caused disabled people, who rely on straws to suffer the most.
Milo Cress, a nine-year-old who created the straw movement, discovered that most people remove their straws from their cups and waste them. Cress suggested servers should offer straws, rather than automatically putting them in cups.
The “offer first” policy not only saves money, but also increases environmental awareness without completely diminishing straws.
But straws are vital necessities for people with disabilities, a factor the public tends to overlook as they choose to support the movement.
Those living with disabilities have trouble functioning without straws, an item they use everyday. They should not lose straws for the sake of a movement with no real impact.
Instead, we should focus on bigger ocean pollutants, such as cigarettes, which are the largest source of ocean pollution.
Not only are cigarettes a major source of pollution, but they are also a detriment to the user’s health.
The straw ban movement provides a false sense of helping the environment, when in reality, the straw movement has not even made a dent in decreasing ocean pollution.
by isabella gulick
Most restaurants and coffee shops serve a beverage with a straw. Since people use straws on a daily basis, more businesses like Starbucks are trying to ban or reduce straw use due to the increase in pollution.
In July, Starbucks announced they will eliminate single-use plastic straws from all of their stores by 2020. Strawless lids or alternative-material straw options will replace straws.
Most people use straws carelessly without acknowledging the true impact they have on the environment. Plastic straws are among the top ten items found during beach cleanups.
This issue might not seem serious because disposable straws only make up about four percent of worldwide plastic trash, but eliminating any plastic waste is extraordinarily beneficial.
One of the easiest ways people can get involved with reducing pollution is to limit the amount of plastic straws they use.
Banning disposable straws will help spark discussions about reducing other plastic waste. Once people realize how easy it is to stop using straws, they are more likely to begin eliminating other forms of plastic.
For people with disabilities that rely on straws, there are other alternatives such as compostable paper straws and reusable stainless steel straws.
People should eliminate the use of straws from their daily life in order to help preserve the environment.
by ema baca