Anyone who knows me knows that straws are one of my absolute pet hates. I think they are so totally useless and unnecessary and should really be banned to help combat plastic pollution.
It is said that and estimated 500 million straws are used every day in the US alone! That is enough straws to circle the globe 2 and a half times! Every day!!!
However, that is not always possible and sometimes we have to make do with what we've got. While I think straws should be banned, I think that ultimately, the biggest this that needs to change is the social trends surrounding straws and more generally, take away drinks. Here in Sydney, we have a very strong culture of take away drinks and these are typically taken with straws no matter what the drink is or if it actually requires one. Even at sit down restaurants, drinks are often served with straws. I would really like to see cafe and bar owners taking the initiative to place straws below the counter and offer them only to people who ask for them. I believe that this is the catalyst we need to start changing the social norm and to prove to people that they really don't need a straw with a lemonade.
It is said that and estimated 500 million straws are used every day in the US alone! That is enough straws to circle the globe 2 and a half times! Every day!!!
However, that is not always possible and sometimes we have to make do with what we've got. While I think straws should be banned, I think that ultimately, the biggest this that needs to change is the social trends surrounding straws and more generally, take away drinks. Here in Sydney, we have a very strong culture of take away drinks and these are typically taken with straws no matter what the drink is or if it actually requires one. Even at sit down restaurants, drinks are often served with straws. I would really like to see cafe and bar owners taking the initiative to place straws below the counter and offer them only to people who ask for them. I believe that this is the catalyst we need to start changing the social norm and to prove to people that they really don't need a straw with a lemonade.
Are we getting any better?
To be totally honest, yes. I think there has been a huge shift towards sustainable living in the last few years and straws have definitely been at the forefront of those changes. There is immense momentum behind phasing out plastic straws with so many campaigns advocating for the elimination of straws; The Last Straw (Aus), Straw No More (Aus), For a Strawless Ocean (US)...
All these organisations are working hard to rid our planet of plastic straws by changing the status quo. There is so much power that rests in the hands of the public and it is crucial that we harness this power to put pressure on politicians to change the laws which allow straws to keep polluting the environment.
Some businesses are already making the change. The Hotel Steyne in Manly has made the switch to paper straws and paper sauce cups.
All these organisations are working hard to rid our planet of plastic straws by changing the status quo. There is so much power that rests in the hands of the public and it is crucial that we harness this power to put pressure on politicians to change the laws which allow straws to keep polluting the environment.
Some businesses are already making the change. The Hotel Steyne in Manly has made the switch to paper straws and paper sauce cups.
Many other businesses have gotten rid of straws all together or hiding them below the counter. I think that all these wonderful changes made by cafes and restaurants are helping to change the public opinion of straws and demonstrating that there are so many other alternatives.
Are we seeing the results?
YES! Absolutely!!!
Change is happening all the time and the gradual phasing out of straws is already being reflected in the rubbish found on our beaches.
I am a volunteer with the Manly Penguin Wardens and I have been lucky enough to see the effect of changing social trends on the pollution littering our beaches. I have been particularly astonished by the decline of plastic straws on our beaches. Once upon a time, they were the most common item found in beach clean ups. This is surely still the case in many areas however in the National Park on North Head, they are becoming few and far between.
We are seeing much less plastic pollution on the beach, particularly plastic straws and this is great news. This can largely be accredited to the fact that we have volunteers cleaning the beach almost every night which is also fabulous but the real heroes in this story are you! You guys are recognising the effect of plastic pollution on our marine life and choosing to refuse. This is fantastic and it really warms my heart to know that the message is spreading and the social norm is shifting.
Change is happening all the time and the gradual phasing out of straws is already being reflected in the rubbish found on our beaches.
I am a volunteer with the Manly Penguin Wardens and I have been lucky enough to see the effect of changing social trends on the pollution littering our beaches. I have been particularly astonished by the decline of plastic straws on our beaches. Once upon a time, they were the most common item found in beach clean ups. This is surely still the case in many areas however in the National Park on North Head, they are becoming few and far between.
We are seeing much less plastic pollution on the beach, particularly plastic straws and this is great news. This can largely be accredited to the fact that we have volunteers cleaning the beach almost every night which is also fabulous but the real heroes in this story are you! You guys are recognising the effect of plastic pollution on our marine life and choosing to refuse. This is fantastic and it really warms my heart to know that the message is spreading and the social norm is shifting.
Where have the straws gone?
I have a small theory on this one, because they cannot all disappear over night. What about all the straws that have been in the ocean for decades, floating around aimlessly and leaking toxins into the water. We rarely find them on the high tide line or in the wet sand by the water.
I would suggest that this is because the straws are washing up less and less now as we consume fewer of them. However, the straws that washed up before we began to monitor the beach and regularly clean it are still present in the dry soft sand where they have been blown to over time.
I would suggest that this is because the straws are washing up less and less now as we consume fewer of them. However, the straws that washed up before we began to monitor the beach and regularly clean it are still present in the dry soft sand where they have been blown to over time.
Change is unstoppable and I think everyone should be very proud of themselves and of the community effort to remove straws from our waste. The rise of metal and paper straws is proof that the tide is changing and I hope it will be bringing is fewer and fewer plastic straws going forward.