Ditch plastic straws
Earth Points1 
EaseMedium
Summary
Single-use plastics such as drinking straws are choking our landfills, rivers, and oceans and can take hundreds of years to break down. Consider a reusable straw instead or ditch the straw altogether!
Description
Single-use plastics play a much more significant role than many realize. Some of us use up to half our body weight in plastic every year. Then it ends up going on to pollute our land and water for potentially 100s of years.
Billions of plastic straws are used around the world on a daily basis. Though they may seem harmless, they are made from polypropylene, which is a polymer that is made from propylene, a type of fossil fuel. Plus, they are also one of the top 10 contributors to ocean plastic waste worldwide. To make things worse, when you recycle straws, most end up in landfills because typical recycling machines cannot process smaller items like straws.
Reduce your plastic waste by substituting plastic straws for eco-friendly options or by cutting straws out of your plastic diet altogether!
Billions of plastic straws are used around the world on a daily basis. Though they may seem harmless, they are made from polypropylene, which is a polymer that is made from propylene, a type of fossil fuel. Plus, they are also one of the top 10 contributors to ocean plastic waste worldwide. To make things worse, when you recycle straws, most end up in landfills because typical recycling machines cannot process smaller items like straws.
Reduce your plastic waste by substituting plastic straws for eco-friendly options or by cutting straws out of your plastic diet altogether!
Tips
• Refuse plastic straws. When ordering drinks, request that you are not given a straw. If you are given a plastic straw anyway, you can always give it back.
• Still want to use a straw? There are lots of eco-friendly alternatives available.
- Steel straws — Rust-proof and chemical-free.
- Silicone straws — Great for drinks that are hot or cold.
- Bamboo straws — An organic and biodegradable option.
- Paper straws — These straws are available at some fast-food establishments and restaurants. However, they are not as sturdy as other plastic straw alternatives and are single-use.
• Still want to use a straw? There are lots of eco-friendly alternatives available.
- Steel straws — Rust-proof and chemical-free.
- Silicone straws — Great for drinks that are hot or cold.
- Bamboo straws — An organic and biodegradable option.
- Paper straws — These straws are available at some fast-food establishments and restaurants. However, they are not as sturdy as other plastic straw alternatives and are single-use.
Additional Resources
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/sustainable-summer-tips-sunscreen-plastic-straw/
https://spoonuniversity.com/healthier/why-you-should-stop-using-plastic-straws
https://www.eatthis.com/plastic-straws-downsides/
https://www.treehugger.com/why-you-should-kick-plastic-straw-habit-4867958
https://www.ecofriendlyhabits.com/why-are-straws-bad/
https://spoonuniversity.com/healthier/why-you-should-stop-using-plastic-straws
https://www.eatthis.com/plastic-straws-downsides/
https://www.treehugger.com/why-you-should-kick-plastic-straw-habit-4867958
https://www.ecofriendlyhabits.com/why-are-straws-bad/
Related
Track actions
Want to keep track of the actions you are trying and have already completed? Want to sort by the different actions? Download the free mobile app for easier browsing and a personalized experience.
