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please stop or you will go to the blue room

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please stop or you will go to the blue room

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Just a few years ago, you automatically received a straw with any cold takeout drink and probably didn't think twice about it. No longer. Seattle is the latest city to join at least a dozen others across the United States in banning plastic straws. McDonald's in the United Kingdom and KFC in Singapore have also served their final straws.

Governments and companies are taking this action because of the staggering volume of waste generated by something most people don't need: An estimated 7.5 percent of plastic in the environment comes from straws and stirrers, according to an analysis by a group of pollution research nonprofits called Better Alternatives Now, which based its results on trash collected by volunteers around the world. A recent report by the World Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, the plastic in our oceans will outweigh the fish.
Bingeing on food can turn into a serious disorder. Here are ways to head off an episode.
If that's not persuasive enough, there are lesser-known, health-related reasons to ditch the little plastic tube. Here are some of the concerns.
Gas and bloating
Sipping from a straw introduces air into the digestive tract. This can cause uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as gas and bloating. When I'm counseling clients who are experiencing these symptoms, I always ask them about lifestyle habits, such as whether they drink from a straw often. Some of my clients have experienced significant improvements by ditching straws, as well as cutting back on two other habits that introduce air into the digestive tract: drinking carbonated beverages and chewing gum.
Cavities
Drinking sugary or acidic beverages through a straw can increase the likelihood of cavities. Straws send a concentrated stream of liquid toward a small area of the teeth, which can erode enamel and cause tooth decay. On the other hand, straws can also be used to lower the risk of cavities if they're positioned behind the teeth, at the back of the throat, although this approach isn't realistic or comfortable for most people.
Chemicals
Most single-use plastic straws are made from polypropylene, a type of plastic commonly made from petroleum. Polypropylene is thought to be food-safe in amounts approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But there is evidence that chemicals from polypropylene can leach into liquids and may release compounds that could affect estrogen levels, especially when exposed to heat, acidic beverages or UV light.

More established is the fact that degraded plastics found in the ocean are ingested by marine wildlife, making their way up the food chain and perhaps winding up at the dinner table. So not only can plastics harm animals in the environment - think about the sea turtle with the straw up its nostril - but bits of them, and the toxic chemicals within, may hurt us all.
Wrinkles
On a lighter note, regular use of straws can also lead to the same wrinkles that smokers get around their mouths. These "pucker lines" could persuade the masses to stop using straws.
Excess sugar and alcohol consumption
It's been argued that sipping liquids such as soft drinks through a straw could contribute to excess sugar intake. The thought is that straws cause you to gulp down a greater volume of liquid more quickly than drinking from a glass or cup. Plus, people aren't very accurate about estimating how much liquid they're taking in, especially if they're distracted by a movie or smartphone screen.

The idea that drinking alcohol through a straw leads to faster intoxication is another theory that's been repeated often. Yet much like the excess-sugar theory, it's popular but unproven.

Blaming a straw for excess sugar consumption is like blaming a fork for weight gain. I suggest it's less the delivery mechanism and more what's at the other end of it that's to blame.

A caveat

For environmental reasons and because of the health implications, I'd be in favor of phasing out straws - with a caveat. They should still be available to people with disabilities who really need them.

In my work with patients with neuromuscular conditions and other difficulties, I've seen how drinking straws can allow for greater independence when drinking beverages. Paper straws aren't firm enough for some of these individuals, so plastic straw bans could make their lives more difficult.

Offering plastic straws by request, as is done in some places, would permit only those who really need them to have access. For people who want to continue using straws, there are plenty of more eco-friendly options available. I've seen materials as diverse as bamboo, silicone, glass, stainless steel and even long tubes of pasta! Make sure your reusable straw hasn't been chemically treated and is easily cleaned. Also keep in mind that more-rigid straws increase the risk of injury to the mouth and shouldn't be used by children.

While the anti-straw movement is an impressive step toward reducing waste in our oceans, there is much more work to be done. Whether we like it or not, plastic is a part of us now. Chemicals from plastic manufacturing show up in our urine, blood and cells. So let's take the conversation beyond straws and move to reduce the use of all single-use plastics in our daily lives to protect our oceans, and ourselves.

Christy Brissette is a registered dietitian, nutrition writer, TV contributor and president of 80TwentyNutrition.com. Follow her on Twitter @80twentyrule.
More from Lifestyle: Slowly but steadily, the travel industry cuts its ties to disposable plastics Are you consuming too much of these five good-for-you foods or drinks? 5 steps to lowering your cancer risk, according to a dietitian What if physicians stopped weighing heavier patients? Health care might improve.

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Perspective | Plastic straws aren't just bad for the environment - they can be bad for your body

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Just a few years ago, you automatically received a straw with any cold takeout drink and probably didn't think twice about it. No longer. Seattle is the latest city to join at least a dozen others across the United States in banning plastic straws.

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whats the point of having straws when we could just sip :)

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whats the point of having straws when we could just sip :)

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same here

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*strawberry shortcake has left the chat*

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Just a few years ago, you automatically received a straw with any cold takeout drink and probably didn't think twice about it. No longer. Seattle is the latest city to join at least a dozen others across the United States in banning plastic straws. McDonald's in the United Kingdom and KFC in Singapore have also served their final straws.

Governments and companies are taking this action because of the staggering volume of waste generated by something most people don't need: An estimated 7.5 percent of plastic in the environment comes from straws and stirrers, according to an analysis by a group of pollution research nonprofits called Better Alternatives Now, which based its results on trash collected by volunteers around the world. A recent report by the World Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, the plastic in our oceans will outweigh the fish.
Bingeing on food can turn into a serious disorder. Here are ways to head off an episode.
If that's not persuasive enough, there are lesser-known, health-related reasons to ditch the little plastic tube. Here are some of the concerns.
Gas and bloating
Sipping from a straw introduces air into the digestive tract. This can cause uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as gas and bloating. When I'm counseling clients who are experiencing these symptoms, I always ask them about lifestyle habits, such as whether they drink from a straw often. Some of my clients have experienced significant improvements by ditching straws, as well as cutting back on two other habits that introduce air into the digestive tract: drinking carbonated beverages and chewing gum.
Cavities
Drinking sugary or acidic beverages through a straw can increase the likelihood of cavities. Straws send a concentrated stream of liquid toward a small area of the teeth, which can erode enamel and cause tooth decay. On the other hand, straws can also be used to lower the risk of cavities if they're positioned behind the teeth, at the back of the throat, although this approach isn't realistic or comfortable for most people.
Chemicals
Most single-use plastic straws are made from polypropylene, a type of plastic commonly made from petroleum. Polypropylene is thought to be food-safe in amounts approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But there is evidence that chemicals from polypropylene can leach into liquids and may release compounds that could affect estrogen levels, especially when exposed to heat, acidic beverages or UV light.

More established is the fact that degraded plastics found in the ocean are ingested by marine wildlife, making their way up the food chain and perhaps winding up at the dinner table. So not only can plastics harm animals in the environment - think about the sea turtle with the straw up its nostril - but bits of them, and the toxic chemicals within, may hurt us all.
Wrinkles
On a lighter note, regular use of straws can also lead to the same wrinkles that smokers get around their mouths. These "pucker lines" could persuade the masses to stop using straws.
Excess sugar and alcohol consumption
It's been argued that sipping liquids such as soft drinks through a straw could contribute to excess sugar intake. The thought is that straws cause you to gulp down a greater volume of liquid more quickly than drinking from a glass or cup. Plus, people aren't very accurate about estimating how much liquid they're taking in, especially if they're distracted by a movie or smartphone screen.

The idea that drinking alcohol through a straw leads to faster intoxication is another theory that's been repeated often. Yet much like the excess-sugar theory, it's popular but unproven.

Blaming a straw for excess sugar consumption is like blaming a fork for weight gain. I suggest it's less the delivery mechanism and more what's at the other end of it that's to blame.

A caveat

For environmental reasons and because of the health implications, I'd be in favor of phasing out straws - with a caveat. They should still be available to people with disabilities who really need them.

In my work with patients with neuromuscular conditions and other difficulties, I've seen how drinking straws can allow for greater independence when drinking beverages. Paper straws aren't firm enough for some of these individuals, so plastic straw bans could make their lives more difficult.

Offering plastic straws by request, as is done in some places, would permit only those who really need them to have access. For people who want to continue using straws, there are plenty of more eco-friendly options available. I've seen materials as diverse as bamboo, silicone, glass, stainless steel and even long tubes of pasta! Make sure your reusable straw hasn't been chemically treated and is easily cleaned. Also keep in mind that more-rigid straws increase the risk of injury to the mouth and shouldn't be used by children.

While the anti-straw movement is an impressive step toward reducing waste in our oceans, there is much more work to be done. Whether we like it or not, plastic is a part of us now. Chemicals from plastic manufacturing show up in our urine, blood and cells. So let's take the conversation beyond straws and move to reduce the use of all single-use plastics in our daily lives to protect our oceans, and ourselves.

Christy Brissette is a registered dietitian, nutrition writer, TV contributor and president of 80TwentyNutrition.com. Follow her on Twitter @80twentyrule.
More from Lifestyle: Slowly but steadily, the travel industry cuts its ties to disposable plastics Are you consuming too much of these five good-for-you foods or drinks? 5 steps to lowering your cancer risk, according to a dietitian What if physicians stopped weighing heavier patients? Health care might improve.

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Perspective | Plastic straws aren't just bad for the environment - they can be bad for your body

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Just a few years ago, you automatically received a straw with any cold takeout drink and probably didn't think twice about it. No longer. Seattle is the latest city to join at least a dozen others across the United States in banning plastic straws.

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"Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences," Brown wrote in his signing message.

Straws have become the new plastic bag; the state banned single-use plastic bags in 2014 to much pushback. But customers have overwhelmingly made the shift to reusable or paper bags with little issue. A growing number of reusable straw companies have emerged to help customers reduce their plastic waste.

Plastic straws, while not the biggest contributor to ocean plastic pollution, have become an easy target. In less than a year, a number of major restaurant chains including McDonald's and Starbucks have announced shifts away from straws. California destination Disneyland will also remove straws and other single-use plastic. Seattle became the first major U.S. city to ban straws in July.

The U.S. uses an estimated 1.5 straws per American per day; 500 million straws are used every day in the U.S. which has a population of 325 million people.

According to Governor Brown plastic kills "millions" of marine animals every year, referencing a recently discovered dead pilot whale with more than 80 plastic bags in its stomach.

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California Becomes First State to Ban Plastic Straws in Restaurants

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"Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences," Brown wrote in his signing message. Straws have become the new plastic bag; the state banned single-use plastic bags in 2014 to much pushback.

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/25/plastic-straw-ban-california-people-with-disabilities

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Plastic straws have been in the news a lot lately. In an effort to go green, many restaurants, and even entire cities, are making moves to ban them entirely. Earlier this month, the city of Seattle announced plans to do away with plastic straws and utensils. Starbucks announced their plans to ban plastic straws and replace them with paper ones. And most recently, food distributor Aramark has decided to phase out straws in most locations (Aramark serves many college campuses and venues across 19 countries).

There's a lot to discuss about plastic straws - most of it being negative. And a lot of the information being shared around the internet about plastic straws is true. Straws do take hundreds of years to decompose, and if they end up in the ocean, they can be harmful to marine life. For example, animals easily swallow plastic straws or accidentally get them lodged in their nose or throat.But there are some myths making the rounds, too, and they're spreading false information about the implications of plastic straw use.

Don't get us wrong: Plastic pollution IS a real problem in the world, and specifically for the ocean. We're definitely not denying that. But with plastic straws in the news so much lately, it's important to separate the myths from the facts. Let's talk about four myths about plastic straws that we need to set straight.

Myth #1: Americans go through 500 million plastic straws every day.

This is one statistic that gets cited a lot, especially with the new plastic straw bans taking effect. But where did this 500 million figure actually come from? It turns out, it came from a 9-year-old. Libertarian magazine Reason reports that back in 2011, a boy named Milo Cress conducted phone surveys with three straw manufacturers. Based on estimates they gave him, he averaged their answers together and ended up with the 500 million figure.

But once Cress appeared on CNN to report his findings, the statistic spread like wildfire - and continues to be cited to this day by major media outlets like In reality, according to data from Technomic, Americans went through about 170-175 million straws per day in 2017 It's still a lot, but it's not 500 million.

Myth #2: Banning straws will have a huge impact on the environment.

Many believe that banning straws will produce a noticeable change in the environment. But it will probably largely go unnoticed. During an interview with Reason, Angela Logomasini, a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said that banning plastic straws will accomplish "probably nothing at all," given that so little of the plastic pollution in the ocean actually comes from the U.S. (But on that in a minute.) She continued: "It might make some people in Hollywood feel good, it might make some politicians feel good - like they're doing something - it might sound good at parties. But it's not going to solve any problems."

The larger worry is that people will think that by reducing or eliminating their plastic straw use, they'll be making a big impact. When really, it's only a small step in what should be a series of many larger ones. "Banning straws is about as important as spitting in the wind," psychologist Robert Gifford . "But a lot of social psychology research says that if you get people to say yes to a small request, they are more likely to accede to more serious requests."

Myth #3: Plastic straws are the biggest threat to ocean pollution right now.

According to research conducted by Australian scientists Denise Hardesty and Chris Wilcox, there are nearly 8.3 billion plastic straws polluting coastlines around the world, Bloomberg reports. And while that is a serious figure, when you look at the bigger picture, it hardly makes a dent. Those 8.3 billion plastic straws only account for .03% of the 8 million metric tons of plastics dumped into the ocean every year.

What's the biggest threat? According to a global survey of beach cleanups conducted by the Ocean Conservancy, the top 10 items collected during ocean cleanup are, in order: cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, glass beverage bottles, other plastic bags, and foam takeaway containers. The survey reports that over 1.8 million cigarette butts were collected, while just over 400,000 straws and stirrers were collected.

Myth #4: Paper and bamboo straws don't have any negative effects on the environment.

While paper and bamboo straws may be better for the environment than plastic straws, they aren't without their flaws. "Paper products take more energy and more effort to produce. You're going to have a net negative environmental impact," Logomasini continued. "Paper doesn't degrade in a landfill either. Everything is essentially mummified."

A lot of reusable straws are made from polylactic acid, a.k.a. "corn plastic." But John Reeve of Plastico, a U.K.-based plastic tableware company, says many of these straws still end up in landfills. Further, he thinks that biodegradable labels aren't much more than "guilt-free packaging" designed to make you feel better about your carbon footprint, CNBC reports.

Myth #5: We should just do away with straws altogether because nobody needs them.

With all the talk around straws, both plastic and biodegradable, it might sound like the best solution would be doing away with straws altogether. But not so fast. Some people do require straws. Many disability advocates have spoken out about the straw ban recently.

"Plastic straws are an accessible way for people with certain disabilities to consume food and drinks," said Katherine Carroll, a policy analyst at the Center for Disability Rights, Time reports. "It seems the blanket bans are not taking into account that they need straws and also that plastic straw replacements are not accessible to people."

Furthermore, the solution isn't as easy as members of the disabled community turning to sustainable straws as an alternative. As Vox points out, depending on the nature of one's disability, metal, paper, glass, or any number of other materials might not be an option. Someone may not have the means to keep a metal straw sterile, may not be able to switch out a paper straw if it weakens or disintegrates, and may be at risk with a fragile material like glass.

So while plastic pollution is an undeniably big problem, plastic straws may not contribute to it as much as you might think. However, we're still big believers that no action is too small. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, consider cutting out plastic products and investing in alternatives. Then, consider what sustainable change you could make next.

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5 Myths About Plastic Straws You Need To Stop Believing Right Now

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Plastic straws have been in the news a lot lately. In an effort to go green, many restaurants, and even entire cities, are making moves to ban them entirely. Earlier this month, the city of Seattle announced plans to do away with plastic straws and utensils.

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only a tiny portion of US straws end up in the ocean.

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Debunking the (Plastic) Straw Man Arguments - Competitive Enterprise Institute

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Of all the consumer products one might have expected to become a flashpoint for political controversy, the humble plastic drinking straw is an unlikely contender. Leap into the headlines it has, though, with communities like Seattle and San Francisco recently enacting bans on disposable straws. The…

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/plastic-straws-arent-just-bad-for-the-environment--they-can-be-bad-for-your-body/2018/07/02/d682fdfe-7964-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bd6cba79e500

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https://infograph.venngage.com/p/112688/paper-straws-vs-plastic-straws

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Part of me is frustrated that the lie alleging Americans go through approximately 500 million straws per day won't die, but another part is excited to revisit the original debunking of this myth.

The truth behind this persistent lie is wild.

NBC News official Twitter account tweeted Wednesday morning, "The average American uses 584 straws a year - most of them ending up in our waterways. We can do better."

The NBC tweet linked to an accompanying article that claimed, "Nationwide, 500 million drinking straws are thrown away each year - enough straws to fill about 46,400 school buses."

"At an average rate, Americans use 1.6 straws a day, or 584 a year, according to the National Parks Service," it added. "Environmental groups have targeted disposable drinking straws - that are not recyclable or compostable - for extinction. The ultimate goal: Prevent non-degradable plastic straws from polluting our beaches, waterways and oceans."

Okay, here's the first problem: The NPS' website actually says Americans use 500 million drinking straws per day, not per year. NBC screwed up the number.

There's an even bigger issue than merely bungling the number, however, and it involves where private companies and government agencies get that 500 million per day statistic. As it turns out, that number comes from a child. I am not making this up.

"The actual number of straws being used is unclear," Reason magazine reported in January.

"The 500 million figure is often attributed to the National Park Service; it in turn got it from the recycling company Eco-Cycle," the report continues. "Eco-Cycle is unable to provide any data to back up this number, telling Reason that it was relying on the research of one Milo Cress. Cress-whose Be Straw Free Campaign is hosted on Eco-Cycle's website-tells Reason that he arrived at the 500 million straws a day figure from phone surveys he conducted of straw manufacturers in 2011, when he was just 9 years old."

Cress, who is now 16-years-old, told Reason that the National Restaurant Association has endorsed his estimate privately. That's to his credit, but the problem remains: He appears to be the sole source for this number.

This is not to disparage Cress. In fact, good for him for getting involved. Rather, this is to suggest that newsrooms would do well to, at the very least, get secondary confirmation before repeating a scary sounding statistic. This is to say nothing of the fact that neither NBC nor any other newsroom that has repeated the claim has ever seen his methodology.

If it's any comfort for NBC, it can take comfort in knowing it's not alone in is spreading this dubious statistic. On the contrary, NBC is merely latest in a long string of newsrooms to repeat the 500 million straws claim.

They are joined by news organizations, including the Washington Post, Reuters, Time magazine, National Geographic, the Guardian, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times.

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Dear, NBC: Stop repeating that stupid lie about how many straws Americans use

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Part of me is frustrated that the lie alleging Americans go through approximately 500 million straws per day won't die, but another part is excited to revisit the original debunking of this myth. The truth behind this persistent lie is wild.

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https://youthradio.org/journalism/science/are-plastic-straws-really-that-bad-for-the-environment/

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https://qz.com/quartzy/1324163/ban-plastic-straws-just-dont-use-paper-ones/

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https://www.strawlessocean.org/faq/

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https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-straw-ban-why-are-there-so-many-2018-7

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Commentary: How Banning Plastic Straws Could Make Pollution Even Worse

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Banning plastic straws and styrofoam (EPS) is becoming popular public policy. But it could actually exacerbate pollution.

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People with disabilities have to use straws

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It was a hot day at the zoo when Jordan Carlson's son, who has motor-planning delays, got thirsty. "We went to the snack bar and found out they had a 'no straw' policy," Carlson says. "It was a hot day and he couldn't drink."

Their only option was to leave the park and look for a business that sold drinks with a straw. Without one, her son can't drink beverages. At home they use reusable straws, and she tries to keep some on hand when they leave the house, but "I'm human and sometimes I forget," Carlson explains. People with disabilities have to be much more conscious of what businesses and communities offer, Carlson says.

On social media, many people are ecstatic about the crush of cities and businesses pledging to ban plastic straws once and for all. Ever since a video showing a sea turtle with a straw stuck up its nose went viral, campaigns like #StopSucking for a strawless ocean have gained considerable traction. Seattle this month implemented a citywide ban on plastic straws, Starbucks announced on Monday that it will phase out the use of plastic straws by 2020,and many other municipalities and businesses are likely to follow suit. As one Twitter user posted, "My waiter asked 'Now, do we want straws OR do we want to save the turtles?' and honestly we all deserve that environmental guilt trip."

But for many people with disabilities, going without plastic straws isn't a question of how much they care about dolphins or sea turtles; it can be a matter of life or death.

There are many alternatives to plastic straws - paper, biodegradable plastics and even reusable straws made from metal or silicone. But paper straws and similar biodegradable options often fall apart too quickly or are easy for people with limited jaw control to bite through. Silicone straws are often not flexible - one of the most important features for people with mobility challenges. Reusable straws need to be washed, which not all people with disabilities can do easily. And metal straws, which conduct heat and cold in addition to being hard and inflexible, can pose a safety risk.

"Disabled people have to find ways to navigate through the world because they know it was not made for us," says Lei Wiley-Mydske, an autism activist who has autism herself. "If someone says, 'This does not work for me,' it's because they've tried everything else."

"Also, what if you decide on the spur of the moment to go have a drink with friends after work but forgot your reusable straw that day?" adds Lawrence Carter-Long, communications director for the national Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. "[That] doesn't leave a lot of room for spontaneity - something nondisabled folks get to largely take for granted."

On social media, many people have responded to claims that people with disabilities need plastic straws by asking what people did before plastic straws were invented. "They aspirated liquid in their lungs, developed pneumonia and died," saysShaun Bickley, co-chair of the Seattle Commission for People with DisAbilities, a volunteer organization that's supposed to advise the city council or agencies on disabilities issues.

How much plastic straw and stirrer pollution is out there? Scientific estimates vary. One report suggests they make up more than 7 percent of the plastics found in the U.S. by piece. By comparison, the same report found plastic bottle caps alone accounted for nearly 17 percent. But straws make up a much smaller percentage of pollution by weight.

Environmentalists have latched on to a figure stating that Americans use over 500 million plastic straws every day - a number that was derived from phone calls made by a 9-year-old boy in 2011. Despite its frequent repetition, there's uncertainty over the accuracy of that figure.

In a post detailing how the plastic straw became the cause du jour for those who love the oceans, Dune Ives, executive director for the Lonely Whale Foundation, wrote, "We found plastic water bottles too endemic, plastic bags already somewhat politicized, and no viable alternative for the plastic cup in ALL markets." So they chose plastic straws, a "playful" alternative and a " 'gateway plastic' to the larger and more serious plastic pollution conversation."

Most of the plastic in the ocean does come from land, says Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She notes that because plasticbreaks up into smaller and smaller particles, it can be hard to tell what it used to be in some cases.

"Straws are maybe not the biggest source of either plastic pollution or disposable plastic we consume, but they're in there," Hoover says.

And for many people who want to consume less plastic, she says,straws are low-hanging fruit.

Yet in general Hoover says that she is wary of outright bans on things. "I personally think we as a country use way too many disposable water bottles. That said, there are times when I'm caught somewhere, don't have a reusable bottle, and want the option to have water and not a sugary drink."

"They key is breaking habits," Hoover says. "Is something a habit because you truly need it or because you got used to doing it that way?"

Carter-Long says he is sympathetic to environmental concerns about plastic pollution, but any public policy aiming to reduce the use of straws needs to make accommodations for people who might need them. Ideally, he says,"each restaurant owner [would] follow their own conscience, maybe keep a stockpile of plastic straws in their storerooms for people to use who need them."

A spokesman for Seattle Public Utilities confirmed to NPR that the city's new plastic straw ban does include a waiver allowing restaurants to give disposable, flexible plastic straws to customers who need them for physical or medical reasons. But Carter-Long and Bickley say there doesn't seem to be widespread awareness of the exemption.Bickley says he asked over a dozen Seattle chain restaurants - including McDonald's and Chipotle - "if they had plastic straws available for people with allergies or need, and they told me no."

And just because an exemption is written into law doesn't mean businesses will comply, even if they know about it. "So many businesses try to get around already ignoring things with [the Americans With Disabilities Act] until someone says, 'I need a ramp or wider hallway or ramp in bathroom or Braille menu,' " says Jordan Carlson. "Sometimes you need to bring a lawsuit just to have your voice heard."

Although Bickley serves on a commission that is supposed to advise Seattle's city agencies on disability issues, he says no one consulted the group before passing the plastic straw ban.

Dianne Laurine, who lives in Seattle, has cerebral palsy, is quadriplegicand has no use of her extremities. "She is old enough to remember a time before plastic and everybody just used rubber straws," Laurine's caretaker, Bill Reeves, says on her behalf, since she has a severe speech impediment.

"They ended up being disgusting, hard to clean. The advent of plastic in the 1950s changed her life," Reeves says.

When asked what it felt like when the straw ban went into effect without consulting those with disabilities, Laurine audibly repeated one word, "Awful. Awful. Awful."

"You're putting this burden on disabled people to come up with a solution. You're not asking companies that manufacture straws to come up with a version that works for us," autism activist Wiley-Mydske says. "You won't even take the bus instead of driving your car somewhere," she says, adding, "How many of you are willing to die for the environment?"
Tove K. Danovich NPR Business Desk intern Charlotte Norsworthy contributed to this report. is a journalist based in Portland, Ore. Maria Godoy is a senior editor with NPR and host of The Salt.

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Why People With Disabilities Want Bans On Plastic Straws To Be More Flexible

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It was a hot day at the zoo when Jordan Carlson's son, who has motor-planning delays, got thirsty. "We went to the snack bar and found out they had a 'no straw' policy," Carlson says. "It was a hot day and he couldn't drink."

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CLOSE
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article misstated the estimated amount of plastic produced globally since the mid-1950s, which is 8.3 billion metric tons.
The origin of the movement to ban plastic straws may come as a surprise: It began with a 9-year-old boy named Milo Cress and his 2011 campaign, "Be Straw Free," which launched to raise awareness about plastic waste.

His big finding? Americans use more than 500 million drinking straws daily, enough to fill 125 school buses. That figure has become highly touted since, referenced in straw ban coverage from The New York Times and National Geographic to reports from the National Park Service (and USA TODAY).

Now 16 years old, Cress just finished his junior year of high school and finds himself the face of a movement felt by global chains from Starbucks to McDonald's. But it's not without criticism - especially of his 500 million stat.

It started years ago when Cress noticed a trend while out to eat. He would see people take the plastic straws out of their drinks and put them on the table - never actually using them.

This didn't sit right with Cress. It felt like such a waste.

"I thought if restaurants were to offer a straw instead of serving them with every drink automatically, it could really reduce the number of straws that we use," he said.

More: Marriott to eliminate plastic straws from all hotels

More: People with disabilities concerned about plastic straw ban

He talked to a local restaurant and asked if they would adopt a policy to "offer first." They were on board.

Not only was it a cost saver, but it also made customers more aware of plastic they use and eventually throw away, Cress said - especially straws, which have a short-use span but a 200-yearlifespan.

Cress talked to restaurants, politicians and peers. His philosophy picked up traction. The idea was digestible, easy enough to understand and practice.

But as Cress began to dig into research on plastics and the environment, he noticed there wasn't much data: "I couldn't find anything on our use of straws in the United States," he said.

So he called straw manufacturers himself, asking what they estimated to be the straw market in the United States per day. Some gave him a yearly estimate, which he divided by 365.

"Others gave an estimate of around 500 million straws," Cress said. "That was the number that I stuck to, because it seemed to be around the middle of what they were saying."

But with national coverage of Cress' statistic came criticism: Conservative-leaning outlets such as Fox News, Washington Examiner, and Reason, aimed to debunk the figure.

The teen is aware of objections to the less-than-verified stat.

"Why I use this statistic is because it illustrates that we use too many straws," he said. "I think if it were another number, it still illustrates the fact that there is room for reduction. That's really my message."

Eco-Cycle, a Colorado-based recycling nonprofit that partnered with Cress' campaign, trusts his statistic. If anything, said Eco-Cycle communications director Harlin Savage, 500 million straws per day could be too low. And if anyone has come up with a different figure, Savage - plus a lot of other people, she said - would like to see it. She applauded the teen's efforts.

"He saw a problem and it really bothered him, and he decided to do something about it," Savage said. "He's a wonderful role model."

In 2013, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper declared July 11 as " Straw Free Day" and cited efforts made by Cress. Cress has also embarked on an international tour encouraging students to act on issues they care about.

More: Royal Caribbean is saying bon voyage to plastic straws

More: Britain lays out plans to ban plastic straws, cotton swabs

So are straws crucial in the war on plastics? It's a step in the right direction, one expert said.

Kara Lavender Law, research professor of oceanography at the Sea Education Association, said the straw free movement serves as a "public service announcement" for environmental issues.

Law has studied plastics and the marine environment for more than a decade.

"If you look at your own plastics footprint, one of the easiest ways is to decline the straw," Law said. "Many of us use a straw simply because it came in the drink that was given to us."

And if one aims to cut down plastic usage beyond the straw, Law recommends cutting "items of convenience, not items of necessity."

She estimates that since the mid-1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced globally. Sixty percent of it now accumulates in a landfill or natural environment, such as the ocean.

These findings were published in a 2017 study Law co-authored called "Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made." It's one of the first comprehensive looks at plastics and where they end up.

And of the 8.3 billion metric tons - a number too high for Law to "realistically count" - her team believes just 9 percent of those plastics have been recycled.

"It's second only to steel and cement for human production of a mass material," Law said. "A huge amount has been made, and very little has been recycled or incinerated."

Businesses and cities ban the straw

Alternatives and questions

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That anti-straw movement? It's all based on one 9-year-old's suspect statistic

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CLOSE Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article misstated the estimated amount of plastic produced globally since the mid-1950s, which is 8.3 billion metric tons. The origin of the movement to ban plastic straws may come as a surprise: It began with a 9-year-old boy named Milo Cress and his 2011 campaign, "Be Straw Free," which launched to raise awareness about plastic waste.

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The issue of how we, as a society, deal with the prevalence of single-use plastics is one that is growing in importance and has been at the center of a lot of media attention in the last few months. Convenience stores make frequent use of these types of plastics because they are, as the name implies, convenient. Now the Senate Environment Committee is moving a bill, S-2776, to ban a variety of these products.

Of the different products, by far the most disruptive to my membership would be the plastic straw ban. I have even heard some advocates declare that a straw ban would be simpler than banning items like plastic bags and Styrofoam containers, but I disagree completely. There are alternatives available to fill the niches satisfied by those products (although they are more costly and less effective). But, at least for now, there is not a true alternative to the plastic straw.
More: More: More: Asbury Boardwalk: Straws suck! Hold the straws, plastic and foam, please: Goldsmith Plastic ban: Monmouth Beach takes aim at straws, bags
There are straws made of paper, but these are completely lacking in durability for more than a few minutes. Restricting the usage of straws at restaurants makes sense, since the customers are going to be sitting peacefully at a table for the complete duration of their meal. But a customer at a convenience store who needs a straw is immediately getting in his or her car. The straw may sit in a large cup for an hour or more as the consumer drinks it, leaves it behind for a while, carries it around, etc.

Paper straws are also about seven times more expensive than plastic ones, a cost that will slightly impact the consumer. There are also some single-use plastic straws that at least claim to be biodegradable, but they would be banned under the current language of the bill as well. There are reusable straws made of metal or bamboo, but by definition a consumer needs to bring the straw with them in advance, and have previously cleaned it.

This week I discussed this bill with a small business owner. He told me that he has been interested in offering paper straws as an option for his customers for several months, but simply cannot find them. Most distributors he has talked with do not offer them, and those that do are already being hit with such a huge surge in demand that they simply cannot provide them. I imagine this problem will only get worse if a state with 9 million residents decides to enact the nation's first statewide ban.

If the point of cutting back on plastic straw usage is to get people to be more aware of the pollution they generate in everyday life, then a government-enforced ban is actually the worst direction to take, because it completely takes the onus off the consumer and makes it so they never think about the issue again (unless it's to curse environmentalism after their paper straw disintegrates).

Instead, we should consider what California has just enacted, which is to ban straws from full-service restaurants unless the consumer requests one. This would be the most effective compromise; it would significantly reduce straw usage without impinging on the choices of the general public, who sometimes have a genuine need that can only be filled by a plastic straw.

Sal Risalvato is executive director of The New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store, Automotive Association (NJGCA) representing small businesses in the motor fuel, convenience store, and auto repair industries for over 80 years.

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The issue of how we, as a society, deal with the prevalence of single-use plastics is one that is growing in importance and has been at the center of a lot of media attention in the last few months. Convenience stores make frequent use of these types of plastics because they are, as the name implies, convenient.

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https://soyummy.com/myths-about-plastic-straws-you-need-to-stop-believing-right-now/

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Even though straws are not the most polluting plastic, they have a smaller size. This means they can fit into smaller spaces within ocean life, rather than just floating by.

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Bottles cause more pollution than straws, but nobody is freaking out about them

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Bottles cause more pollution than straws, but nobody is freaking out about them

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https://www.printwand.com/blog/plastic-water-bottle-pollution-effects-facts

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https://www.strawlessocean.org/faq/

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one time i ripped the end off a straw wrapper and blew into it and the wrapper flew off and hit a lady in the face

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Here's how little plastic straws are wrecking our oceans

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Any object that has a density less than 1 will float in water. However, if the density is more than one, the abject will sink.