Eateries, governments targeting plastic straws
Order a drink at Mama’s Fish House in Maui, and it’ll arrive topped with a black paper straw. At South Africa’s Conscious 108, you’ll likely get a straw made of steel.
And at Harlem Public, waiters hand out Twizzlers, with their tips cut off, for sipping certain drinks.
The best part? When they’re done slurping up their cocktails, “close to 100 percent” of customers eat the Twizzlerturned-straw, says owner Lauren Lynch. In other words: zero waste.
As local governments mull restrictions on plastic straws, restaurants and bars around the world are toying with new ways to replace a piece of plastic that has become a ubiquitous part of dining out, whether at a fast-food eatery or a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Legislation introduced recently in California would make it illegal for waiters to dole out unsolicited plastic straws. Seattle is banning plastic straws and utensils beginning in July, and California cities Davis and San Luis Obispo now prohibit restaurants from handing out plastic straws unless requested by a customer.
Coastal countries such as South Africa, Costa Rica and Thailand also have been at the forefront of such a movement, shifting to straws made of bamboo, wood or paper.
“There is so much plastic waste that washes up on our beaches that we knew we had to do something,” said Emma Iacono, co-owner of Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica. “We’re trying to eliminate as much plastic as we can.”
The resort stopped using plastic straws nearly two years ago and now provides biodegradable straws upon request.
By some estimates, Americans throw away 500 million plastic straws a day. The no-plastic movement, which has grown steadily in recent years, gained momentum following a viral video three years ago that shows a sea turtle with a plastic straw wedged in its nose.
Walt Disney World has since banned plastic straws at some of its theme parks, and the Smithsonian Institution has taken steps to eliminate them from its museums. Even celebrities have taken note: Actor Adrian Grenier and NFL star Russell Wilson are among those speaking out against plastic straw use.
“Can humanity survive without plastic straws? I think so,” celebrity chef José Andrés said.
But his customers don’t always agree.
In 2010, Andrés swapped out plastic straws for paper ones at his Washington restaurants. As a scuba diver, he said he had seen the impact of plastic straws on the environment.
“It was the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a customer revolt,” he said. “Nobody liked them.”
Demand for biodegradable straws is on the upswing, according to restaurant suppliers across the country. Online retailer Webstaurant Store now offers 34 types of compostable straws, alongside 114 plastic varieties.
Restaurantware.com stocks several varieties of stainless steel straws, including some the company says are goldplated.