Recently, the Ontario government announced that it is open to eliminating the use of single-use plastics. This initiative would include the use of straws. Plastics like straws only get used one-time and as a result, they often end up in landfills or on the streets where they eventually end up in the oceans. The environmental impacts of this can be detrimental in the long run.
Liny Lamberink is a co-facilitator with Zero Waste Forest City. She says that even something as small as a plastic straw can make a big difference.
Biodegradable Straws in the Spoke Restaurant at Western University
“The problem with a plastic straw or any other plastic is plastic does break down over time, but it also lasts for forever. So, what ends up happening is that as plastic and plastic straws are exposed to sunlight and water, they start to break into these tiny little pieces called microplastics that are just going to exist in the environment forever,” she said.
She believes that plastics over time can damage wildlife.
“It is ending up in the food that wildlife are eating. It’s probably ending up in our own food that we are eating. Think of all the plastic that ends up in the ocean, all of that is also degrading”, she said.
Many restaurants such as Starbucks are thinking of already have stopped serving plastic straws to their customers. Milos Emporium here in London is one of them. Owner Milos Krak believes that taking away plastic straws from his customers was not a difficult choice.
“I guess it just made sense. Every once in a while you got to step back and look at what you do and say, do you know what, we’ve been doing this for a long time, but does it make sense,” said Krak.
Krak says that he has gotten mixed reviews from his customers.
“Some people don’t like it, most people understand’, said Krak.
Naked by Reimagine Co. Metal Straws
Paper straws are offered in many restaurants, but not only are they more expensive compared to plastic ones they also often times get soggy before the drink is even done. This is why many stores are selling metal and silicone straws that customers can wash and reuse any time they want. Naked by reimagine Co, is one of these companies.
Co-owner Kara Rynen says that metal straws are the most popular choice among her customers.
