If you saw that viral video of a straw that painfully impaled a sea turtle’s head back in 2015, then you know why many are reconsidering the use of single-use plastics. 🥤

Our neighbors in Clearwater have been practicing a “strawless summer,” where participating businesses will avoid the use of plastic straws (unless actively requested), with means to show how-to live life — straw-free.

Buddy Sparrow has led the charge in Deerfield Beach for strawless summer by purchasing about 32,000 paper straws + visiting over 50 restaurants, bars + hotels in the area to advocate for the switch in hopes of saving local sea-life.

David Anderson, sea turtle conservationist, also commented that “Plastics are the biggest threat to hatchlings. Straws usually don’t impale noses like the one in the video, but they break up into tiny bits that hatchlings eat.”

Why care about single-use plastic?

100,000 marine animals perish each year due to waste like plastic straws.
The U.S. consumes enough plastic straws per day to wrap around the earth 2.5 times.
World Economic Forum estimates that, at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the ocean by 2050.

Some argue about the cost for businesses when considering alternative solutions. Bloomberg says, “Plastic straws cost about half a penny, corn-based cost 2 cents, and paper straws cost around 4 cents.” But many businesses are making the switch anyway, valuing the planet + marine life over the economic loss.

Local effects:

All of this information + the initiatives taking place around us have us thinking about Lakeland’s responsibility when it comes to single-use plastic straws. Whether that’s discussing which businesses could make the shift to paper or what we could personally do to reduce our own waste.

When asked, here’s what some of you thought about a #strawlesssummer:

Danielle A. said, “I have my own glass straw that I take with me anywhere! My dad has a disability to where he needs a straw to drink out of. Therefore, he brings his own with him everywhere!”
Bethany B. said “Strawless would be amazing!!”
Brian commented, “Edible straws is the only solution.”
David Y. posted, “I think the straw thing is WAY over-hyped.”
Aukele M. said, “Though I agree plastic is an issue I don’t think it solely starts with plastic straws. I think you need to be more focused on making recycling more available to the public.”
Lauren N. responded, “I’d be down, but what about plastic bags too!?

Photo by Sunshine Straw Co.

TryThis:
♻We found some plastic straw alternatives that we are loving.

Local alternatives: Sunshine Straw Co. out of St. Pete
Good for big businesses: Aardvark paper straws (compostable)
Personal convenience: Final Straw folding straws
Med-long use: Bamboo straws (compostable)
Long-lasting: Stainless Steel straws (easy-to-clean)

Now that you know a little bit more about single-use plastic straws, keep sharing your thoughts on going strawless. Email us with your comments, facts, alternatives, + other plastic related aspirations. 🌎 Also, let us know if you’d like to see a whole story on Lakeland’s recycling policies + guidelines.

Stay Strawless Lakeland,
- Emily