By Staff
July 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
BurlingtonGreen told us all that July was being recognized as Plastic Free month; an initiative to refuse all single-use plastic products for the entire month of July.
For good reason.
It is now believed that there are “5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea”
As individuals and a community, we have the power to say NO to plastic, creating positive change with far reaching impact.
They list more than 100 ways to skip using plastic. One that caught our eye was the plastic straw that restaurants place on the table when they give you a glass or carton of some beverage. Skip the Straw suggest the BG people.
Interesting – funny – but necessary.
Straws are one of the worst offenders of single-use waste, but do we honestly need them? How many times have you been given a straw without asking for it? How many times have you immediately picked out the straw and thrown it away? How many times was that straw encased in paper waste? If you really need one, there are alternatives available, including metal straws or your reusable water bottle with a drinkable lid.
Something to think about. Straws just might go the way of carbon paper!
I remember straws and lids were not available at Toronto Zoo McDonalds in the 80’s.
We actually had to drink our cola right from the cup if you can imagine.
I do not recall how we survived – but certainly a few animals did that may have otherwise choked on a stray straw.
I never understood the need for straws other than milk shakes and other frozen beverages.
I will never understand why restaurants of late are putting a straw in the glass when I order simple water. Could it be the public’s anxiety over potential germs?