Single-Use Plastic Straws
More than 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the Earth’s ocean each year. (citation)
Most plastic straws are intended to be single-use which means they’re thrown away after just minutes of use.
They may be small and lightweight but they add up to create a BIG problem — Americans use millions of plastic straws each day. (citation)
Plastic straws are among the top 10 contributors to plastic marine debris across the globe. (citation)
Plastic straws are small and lightweight, which makes it easy for them to end up as litter, clogging gutters and polluting our waterways, streets, parks, and ocean where they may persist for hundreds to thousands of years. (citation)
In addition, plastic straws are not recyclable, so those that do get thrown away will end up in landfills and incinerators where they will either release chemicals into the air and soil. (citation)
Plastic straws can sicken and kill seabirds, fish, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and other marine animals when they get lodged in their noses, throats, and stomachs. (citation)
As plastic straws are exposed to sunlight, waves, wind, and extremes of temperature extremes, they begin to break up into smaller pieces and they become microplastics, tiny particles that can infiltrate the bodies of all living things, including humans. (citation)
In addition, although most single-use plastic straws are made from polypropylene, some straws are made from polystyrene, or plastic foam, which contains styrene, a likely human carcinogen that’s been linked to headaches, fatigue, and other health problems. (citation)
For most people, plastic straws are an unnecessary utensil. However, it's important to note that straws are a necessity for some people with disabilities, which is why we advocate for providing “straws upon request” as well as providing paper or reusable straws, if needed.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Say no to single-use plastic straws at restaurants and cafes. If you want to use a straw, you can bring a reusable metal, bamboo, or glass straw with you. They are affordable, easy to carry, and you can clean metal or glass straws in the dishwasher.
Work to pass a ban on plastic straws except upon request in your town, city, county, or state. “Skip the Straw” or “Straws Upon Request” laws are a great way to reduce plastic pollution and help grow the movement against single-use plastics! Use the resources below to urge your local or state government to pass a straws-upon-request law.
RESOURCES
MODEL LEGISLATION
You can download our model Beyond Plastics Bill and use it as a starting point with your elected representatives. It is drafted to ban plastic bags, polystyrene, stirrers, straws (except upon request), and balloon releases. We recommend attempting to ban all of these items at once, if possible!
SAMPLE PETITION
If you’d prefer to limit your efforts to just banning plastic straws except upon request, you can use this sample petition language to start an online petition to raise awareness and put pressure on elected officials to act.
DOWNLOADABLE FACT SHEET
Check out our handy Plastic Straws Fact Sheet below – available to download as a PDF.
This fact sheet is also available in Spanish. Haga clic aquí para descargar en Español.
MORE INFORMATION
Want to arm yourself with more information? We recommend reading the two reports below to help you make your case: