You've probably seen this video. That's a plastic straw being pulled out of a sea turtle's nose.
The video went viral in 2015 sparking a public outcry to "say no to plastic straws." And over the years, the campaign has gained traction.
Starbucks says by 2020 it will eliminate plastic straws, pivoting to biodegradable straws and a newly designed lid. McDonald's UK, American Airlines, and Marriott Hotels have all announced similar changes.
So, why do plastic straws suck? Starbucks says, "One of the major issues with plastic straws is that they are too small and lightweight to be captured in modern recycling equipment."
We reached out to various recycling plants across North America to see if that was true. While some facilities told us they do recycle straws, two of the largest recycling facilities in the US said its machines don't always catch straws.
So, they end up in the trash and eventually in landfills. So frustrating. I know. Another place straws tend to end up? Beaches.
Dr George Leonard is the Chief Scientist for Ocean Conservancy. The data from our 2017 international coastal cleanup and there were 643, 000 plastic straws that were picked up around beaches and waterways all over the world.
To limit the use of straws Starbucks introduced a new lid that resembles a sippy cup. These new lids are made from polypropylene which according to Starbucks can be widely recycled.
But there's one major problem. You know, the objective really was to phase out straws because they're not recyclable.
The shift to this lid really increases the amount of plastic that Starbucks is using per cup. I think it could be a part of a solution but I don't think it's the whole picture.
