Lenten Discipline: Straws

Straws…humans have used them for 7,000 years but in the 1960s straws shifted from being a renewable to an oil-based, single-use product. The problem: we humans use 500 million straws every day. If put end to end, this number would circle the planet more than two and a half times each day.

The straws we use require oil for production, gas for delivery and space for disposal. Because of their shape and size, straws are rarely recycled so they blight communities, fill landfills and trash oceans. Researchers estimate that 90% of seabirds, whales, dolphins and sea turtles ingest plastic that reaches the ocean. Over time plastics break into smaller fragments and travel into the food chain possibly concentrating toxic chemicals into the predators.

You can help! If you don’t need a straw, don’t use one. Ask your waiter not to bring straws to your table. Invite your favorite restaurants to consider offering straws to customers rather than automatically providing a straw with each drink. If you need a straw consider buying a reusable straw. Be mindful this Lent of the impact of plastic on the environment and marine life.

Source: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/plastic-straws-a-life-cycle/