Environmental groups and concerned members of the public are attempting to make plastic straws a thing of the past. But many alternatives present other problems for the planet or are unsuitable for people with disabilities, critics say.
Plastic straw bans have made their way into both local and national stages with a movement that gained traction last year. California governor Jerry Brown signed legislation aimed at reducing straw waste, while Seattle has banned all plastic utensils from businesses.
Starbucks will get rid of its straws by 2020, and McDonalds has phased out plastic straws in their UK restaurants, replacing them with paper straws.
Plastic straws are bad for the planet because they "cannot be recycled because of their weight," and thus contribute to the eight million tons of plastic trash that flow every year into the world’s oceans, said Dr. Tony Walker, assistant professor of environmental science at Dalhousie University in Canada, to USA TODAY.
Critics have called the government bans too oppressive and have said the statistic many of these bans are based on, that Americans throw away 500 million drinking straws daily, is outdated and unverified.
Over 300 million metric tons of single-use plastics — which include plastic bags, cutlery, and yes, straws — are produced annually, and 50% are discarded after a single-use, according to Walker.
But finding a good alternative has proven tricky, with advocates for people with disabilities as well as environmental activists finding fault with many options.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Communications Director Lawrence Carter-Long told USA TODAY that reusable straws don't work "as well as plastic straws" for people with disabilities.
The disabilities affected by the plastic straw ban "run the gamut," he said, ranging from people with quadriplegia to people with down syndrome or Parkinson's.
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Most straws pose injury risks, and are expensive, says the Center for Disability Rights.
A 60-year-old U.K. woman with mobility issues died in July after using a metal straw while drinking from a glass with a fixed lid. When she accidentally fell onto the straw, it impaled her left eye socket and pierced her brain.
And two of the most common straw alternatives — paper and metal — have drawn criticism for environmental experts such as Walker.
Paper straws use a lot of raw materials, and because of their single-use nature, do not lessen one's carbon footprint, Walker told USA TODAY.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, uses a fair amount of energy as well as mining resources to make.
"[Single use plastic] straws have been described as a ‘gateway plastic’, which if curbed, can help change the behavior of consumers and retailers to reduce other SUP items," Walker said in a 2018 study.
To be sure, most of the straws use energy or materials that are less than beneficial for the environment. But if you keep them on your person and use them whenever possible, Walker says, you should have a net positive impact.
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Forgoing a plastic straw for a reusable one will definitely not single handedly save the environment. But if you do not have disabilities and want to cut down on plastic usage, a reusable straw might be for you.
Paper is not included in the below list of good alternatives. Why? Mostly, because it isn't much better for the environment than plastic straws are. They are still a single-use waste item, similar to paper bags.
Here are five of the best options for people who want to stop using plastic straws:
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1. Metal
Pros: Metal straws are arguably the most popular of the reusable straws. They come in many varieties, including curved, straight and silicon capped. There's also evidence that metal straws make drinks taste better, and they can be easily packed and carried around.
Cons: Although there are a variety of metal straws, some of which are cheaper, metal straws tend to be more expensive than other alternatives. They also conduct heat, making them possibly unpleasant to use with hot or cold beverages. Metal straws are also hard to clean, and bacteria or mold can grow inside a dirty straw.
2. Glass
Pros: Glass straws are clear, allowing for easy cleaning – and are dishwasher safe as well. They're also hypoallergenic, safe for people with sensitivities.
Cons: Glass straws break easily – so they may not be the best option for children. Glass is also a conductor of hot and cold liquids, but it maintains a similar temperature to the vessel you're drinking out of.
