Editor,
As we are all aware single use plastic straws are the one of our biggest environmental offenders. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found them to be consistently in the top five discarded items found on our shores. More than 500 million are used and discarded daily in the U.S. Cities across the country are jumping on the “ban bandwagon” with Seattle and Malibu enacting bans. New York City introduced a bill on May 23 to do the same.
I happen to prefer drinking cold beverages with a straw. I made the switch and started carrying a glass straw in my purse. They’re readily available online, as are steel straws.
I also took the opportunity to talk to Patrick, the genial owner of Kitchen in the Canyon, and asked if he would consider paper straws. He couldn’t say “yes!” fast enough. I urge all local restaurateurs to do the same thing. Personally, I’d be surprised if customers even have a preference for plastic.
Sadly, just the other day, McDonalds shareholders rejected a proposal to ban plastic straws in the U.S. (used at 37,000 outlets serving 68 million people daily), but other companies such as Alaska Airlines are making the switch.
We’ve banned plastic bags and Styrofoam containers. It’s time to say goodbye to the plastic straw. If you’re not convinced, do a google search and take a look at some of the sea creatures that have been affected.
Leslie Cunningham, Laguna Beach
