There is one area where I could control the plastic that is brought in, and that is with straws. Does that mean I am making a difference? Not in terms of manufacturing. Companies will still make the same amount, which is something that the zero-waste community doesn’t really discuss. Many people in the zero-waste/low-waste community give the impression that a refusal of products means that the company all of a sudden will make less of it. That’s not quite how it works, but that is for another post. Back to the straws: I have boba straws and regular, glass and metal, plus some bamboo straws (I’m not a fan of the bamboo type). Now, I do know that some people need to use plastic straws for medical reasons, which I have no objection to. If you are one who does, you shouldn’t feel bad about needing them, either.

I love the glass and metal straws. I try to only use the metal straws for water and the glass for everything else because it is easier to see and clean glass straws. For instance, when I have a smoothie or boba, it is easier to make sure that the glass straw is clean versus possibly leaving residue behind in the metal straws. I have, but do not care for, bamboo straws. You have to be careful with bamboo because of how the wood is treated. Also, it will make whatever you are drinking taste like the straw, which isn’t pleasant. They also decompose fast and are prone to splitting.

The issue with straws is that they cannot be recycled. They are too small, and end up falling off of the conveyor belts along with other small bits. The items that have fallen off are then discarded. Unfortunately so much waste, including straws and wrappers, ends up in waterways, posing a threat to the ecosystem. Do you use alternatives to plastic straws? Let us know your favorites in the comments.

Peace & Love, always!