Plastic straw ban steps up a gear
Council looks set to remove them from premises
Renfrewshire Council should ditch environmentally damaging plastic straws from all its facilities, say councillors.
Calls for the local authority to join the Final Straw campaign will be put before members for approval at Thursday’s full council meeting.
The move, proposed by Councillor Stephen Burns, would see plastic straws removed from buildings and services run by the council.
The SNP member for Paisley Southwest, also praised Renfrewshire businesses who have already introduced a ban on the straws.
He said: “I congratulate those companies who have already joined the Final Straw campaign and would encourage everyone else to do so.
“Plastic straws end up in our seas, suffocating wildlife and polluting beaches.
“Many of us don’t need plastic straws but we want to be clear that robust, flexible and suitable alternatives must be readily, easily and cheaply available to ensure that those who rely on plastic straws are not negatively affected.
“They are contributing to the rise in plastic litter in our seas.
“More and more pubs, cafes and restaurants are choosing not to give out plastic straws, unless it is requested, but we need to do more.”
It is estimated that straws take up to 500 million years to decompose, posing a danger to the environment.
Councillor Burns added: “The Final Straw campaign aims to reduce the use of plastic straws in order to cut down on the environmental damage caused by single-use plastic items.
“This campaign was started by SNP MSP Kate Forbes and, following representations by some disability groups, she has written to the Scottish Government to ask that their disability advisor considers alternative straws for disabled people before implementing a ban on them.
“Already Café Su, in The Paisley Centre has moved to using biodegradable alternatives and I would encourage more places to follow their lead.”