Disposable plastic straws are very small in size, but they pose a massive threat to the planet. Why? It’s all in the numbers. We use and toss 500,000,000 disposable straws every single day here in the US. In the drive-through, at the coffee shop, during dinner out — that’s right, 182 BILLION straws a year. A gargantuan mountain of landfill trash added year in and year out with much of it ending up in the ocean. As plastic pollution is mounting, consumers that are wise to this problem are opting for alternatives. Mamavation has covered other important topics including Dangerous Disposable Dinnerware, Toxic Fast Food Packaging and Hormone-Disruption BPA in Receipts, so journey with us again as we take on one of the biggest environmental epidemics facing the earth right now–disposable straws.
Table of Contents
3 Major Problems With Disposable Straws
Plastic Straws Aren’t Biodegradable
It’s bad enough that plastic disposable straws take 200 years to degrade, but in actuality, they never truly disappear and only break down into tiny microplastic pieces that remain on the earth for the rest of time.
Plastic Straws Are Petroleum-Based
The petrochemicals contained in plastic straws continuously leach into the ground after disposal, and contribute to the contamination of the surrounding ground and water, eventually reaching into our very own homes and communities.
Plastic Straws Contribute to Severe Marine Pollution
You may have heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch made up of accumulated trash and debris — 90% of it plastic — that traveled along circulating ocean gyres ending up in one huge floating pile. Unfortunately, it’s not the only mass of trash in the ocean either. Disposable straws are always in the top 10 most commonly found marine debris, and sadly, it’s common to find fish, birds, and turtles with bellies full of plastic junk. In fact, 30% of turtles and 71% of seabirds have been found with plastics in their stomachs with 1,000,000 seabird deaths attributed to plastic ingestion. The degrading material from trash in the ocean releases chemicals that cause dangerous imbalances in the delicate ocean ecosystem interfering with marine life cycles, disturbing the natural cycle of coral reefs, and contributing to the creation of massive algae blooms that rob the water of oxygen, all of which negatively affect the continuation of the human life cycle.
3 Solutions to the Disposable Straw Epidemic
Get Involved in the Big Picture
Do something as simple as signing a petition to bring awareness of the problem to local and federal governments. There are 12 petitions on Change.org about plastic straws right now. You can also become more informed and active about plastic pollution by following projects like the Plastic Pollution Coalition and the documentary Straws that highlights the devastating environmental impact of disposable straws.
Personally Contact Your Local Businesses
Ask local restaurants, coffee shops, bars and diners to serve straws only upon request, and consider switching from plastic straws to reusable or compostable options. Then vote with your dollar and patronize companies who make positive changes.
Choose Reusable, Biodegradable or Compostable Straws Every Time
There are a lot of excellent alternatives to disposable plastic straws to choose from. The list below contains 6 categories of Mamavation-approved straw options.
Glass Straws
Silicone Straws
Stainless Steel Straws
- Rainier Tumbler Straws
- Eco at Heart Extra Wide Smoothie Straws
- Green Heart Angled Straws
- Joyeco Rainbow Straws
Paper Straws
- Striped Biodegradable Straws
- Green Paper Biodegradable Straws
- Bendy Paper Biodegradable Straws
- Natural White Biodegradable Straws
Bamboo Straws
Vote With Your Dollar–How You Can Make a Difference
If you would like to see less plastic pollution, support brands that are providing products that solve that problem. When you vote today with your dollar, you are actually supporting the leaders you want tomorrow by giving them more resources to do amazing things.
For more tips on how to make your home safer, pick up a copy of Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier (All Without Driving Your Family Crazy!). This book will help you slay all those foul-mouthed chemical dragons in your home that are there without your consent. And for more updates, tips, and product investigations sign up for Mamavation’s FREE newsletter here.
Ozone, Saltwater & Fresh Water Swimming Pools: Safer Options For Families Avoiding Toxins
Thank You for doing this post. Plastic straws are devastating to the marine life and to the environment. I do not know if we will ever be able to ban them entirely but I hope many companies will take a step in the right direction and switch to safer alternatives.
Totally!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. I’m so happy to see more and more people being aware of this global plastic problem and doing something to reduce the plastic waste. Plastic straws are absolutely devastating not only for humans but for our planet and our marine life. I just sign a petition for Starbucks to stop using plastic straws. We can all make a difference by refusing the straws at the restaurants and the alternatives.
I’m so glad that this anti-straw and anti-plastic movement seems to be picking up steam finally and not just seen as a hippy thing! We always pick up fun decorative paper straws for birthday parties and events, as well as having a set of steel ones. It is pretty gross to think about how much waste we have created…
Deb
http://www.bookinspiredplay.com
I bought a pack of stainless steel straws and keep 1 in my vehicle, 1 in my bag and several at home so I have never have an excuse to use a plastic straw .
You are one smart mama! XXOO
Not straw related, but after watching the video cast on black plastics and cooking utensils, I threw them all out,even my favorite spatula the ‘perfect one for making omelets. And silently scream when seeing a vat of plastic straws at my grandsons house, and tell her to throw them…..isnt that an oxy moron.How are we too dispose of the ones we have safely if by throwing them out we put them in the trash.Please respond .I can burn them but that would be even worse, than put them in the trash.
Yeah, burning them would be a bad idea. If they are #5 plastic, check with your waste management district to see if they recycle them. And that’s what I would do. Very few brands use “virgin” plastic, so I’d be more concerned about your family at that point.