Sucky truth about disposable straws
Some Wellington restaurants give out 800 plastic straws every week, according to new research, and many are winding up on the capital’s beaches.
It is no wonder conservation group Sustainable Coastlines reports straws are among the most common litter items collected during beach cleanups.
American exchange student Katie Timzen has been working with the Wellington City Council and Sustainable Coastlines to raise awareness of the issue among waterfront restaurateurs, with the aim of reducing usage.
‘‘They are a nuisance in the environment, they significantly harm marine life worldwide, so just trying to reduce the number of them is our goal,’’ she said.
‘‘Straws aren’t talked about – they are kind of just a habit. It’s a social norm to get a straw in your drink, despite it being usually unnecessary.’’
To help the transition to more sustainable alternatives, the council is planning to bulk purchase paper straws, and offer them for free trials to outlets.
A council spokeswoman said creating bylaws against the use of straws was not an option. ‘‘As with plastic bags, we can’t regulate the banning of plastic straws but we are working closely with stakeholders and community groups and organisations to educate, reduce, and reuse in all areas of waste minimisation and management.’’ As straws broke down into smaller pieces they were often mistaken for food by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, and had been found to move up the foodchain as the original ingester was eaten, Timzen said.
Restaurants on the waterfront with outdoor seating had the most impact. If a straw was dropped the wind would blow it straight out into the water.
Most waterfront restaurants and bars surveyed were found to be receptive to cutting down on the use of disposable straws, and several were investigating metal straws. Two-thirds were open to having facts about the impact of straws displayed in-house.
Timzen is one of 17 students who travelled to New Zealand with a programme that aims to further environmental causes through internships.
Hospitality NZ spokeswoman Rachael Shadbolt said the industry was behind limiting disposable straw use, but she would not comment on whether the organisation would support legislation to ban the use straws.
Sustainable Coastlines cofounder Sam Judd said there were plenty of reusable options available, including bamboo and metal straws. of non-biodegradable