500 million straws are used and discarded every day in the United States alone. That’s over 180 billion a year being dumped into landfills and littering our waterways and oceans.
What’s more, the average plastic straw takes up to 200 years to degrade; when it does degrade, it breaks down into microplastics, that are ingested by marine and land animals, working their way into our food chain.
Straws are not recyclable.
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WHAT CAN MY BUSINESS DO?
If you own a restaurant, diner, deli, snack bar or other food service establishment:
- Offer straws only on request.
- Eliminate plastic straws completely* and provide paper straws on request. Companies that offer straws on request generally reduce straw consumption by 40%, offsetting the cost of paper straws and allowing restaurants to save money while helping to reduce plastic pollution.
- Replace plastic cocktail and coffee stirrers with eco-friendly options such as bamboo.
If you have an employee cafeteria or a kitchen in your office:
- Eliminate plastic straws completely* and provide paper straws.
- Replace plastic coffee stirrers with eco-friendly options such as bamboo.
- Provide reusable plates, cups, mugs, and utensils instead of disposable.
*Please keep a few flexible straws on hand for our friends in the special-needs community.
** Note: “Biodegradable” plastic, compostable plastic or bio/plant plastic is not compostable or recyclable in most areas. Bioplastics and compostable plastics require a commercial high heat composting facility and will not break down in a landfill or ocean.
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE PAPER STRAWS?
Check with your current distributor for paper straw and bamboo options.
Paper straws and Bamboo stirrers can also be found through these companies: