Ok, I swear I’m not anti-environment, especially based on my last post: Zero Waste Grocery Store and Why They Won’t Work. I’m just stating what I think is practical and know what will and won’t work in today’s day and age. Can we just all agree paper straws were invented by the devil? And that I can come up with 50 things that are far more dangerous to sea turtles then plastic straws? I don’t know what it’s like in other countries but we had 1 sea turtle get a straw stuck up it’s nose and suddenly the country is in chaos, banning plastic straws as if they are on par with lead poisoning. Are these marine biologist blind to the other things that are in the ocean? Are you telling me there isn’t another thing shaped like a straw, floating around that could again go up their nose? No, you can’t.
Hypocrites
Here’s the irony in all this. Companies market that they’re going green and only going to have paper straws. Well aren’t we a goody two-shoes. What they fail to tell you is that upon cleaning up your table, bar area, wherever you are, the paper straws are placed in plastic trash bags and sent off to the landfills. If the can liners make their way into the ocean, they can suffocate the same damn sea turtle. So what are we to do? Have paper trash bags? I can tell you that our plastic trash liners at home barely survive my families attempts to push the trash farther down as to not have to take the trash out. Good luck with that.
We’ve all had paper straws and they are the worst! They change the flavor of the drink. The straw tends to stick to your lips and lastly, it disintegrates into your drink and you have to get another straw. The cost difference of paper straws to plastic is astronomical (We’re talking $24/case vs $70/case) so when your customer is using two straws as opposed to one, costs go up. And by the way, I can speak intelligently about this topic as my career is buying disposable products and I buy both plastic and paper.
Stainless Steel Straws
Some folks have resorted to carrying their own stainless steel straws. Let me tell you what will happen in my life before I carry my own straw:
- I’ll purchase and drive a minivan.
- I will apply to work at Walmart.
- I’ll allow either of my sons to sport a man bun.
So yeah, I don’t know where I’m going with this. I don’t know if we just let this trend die out or we’re stuck with it. Do you mind paper straws?
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I’m not sure I’ve used a paper straw, but I understand it would be an entirely different experience than using a plastic one. I recently bought a set of metal straws and the thought has crossed my mind to throw a few in my purse to use while I’m out and about, I just haven’t done so. I use them everyday at home though. Since the outrage of plastic straws began, I will saw my use of straws has become more conscience. If I’m at a nicer restaurant with actually cups/glasses, I will forego the straw. If I go to a fast food restaurant and eat in, I will also not use a straw and just drink from the cup. In my opinion, any change big or small is a win for the environment.
I take back my comment. I happened to use a paper straw last night and by the time I was half way done with my beverage, the damn thing bent in the middle and I couldn’t use it anymore. Paper straws are the work of satan!
I don’t mind them. A lot of restaurants here have started using them. Some are better than others. Personally, I’ve often thought that if they just stopped offering straws, people would likely stop using them.
So… you don’t like paper straws then? lol
I’m wondering who decided you have to use a straw. Have people forgotten how to drink from a cup?