Plastic Free Guelph invites local businesses to ban plastic straws
The Straws Suck campaign has been introduced to the city of Guelph by a local organization called Plastic Free Guelph.
By agreeing to participate in the Straws Suck campaign, businesses are promising to:
- Stop purchasing plastic straws
- Stop serving plastic straws with drinks
- Start providing biodegradable or reusable straws (for frozen blended beverages or upon customer request)
So far, a total of 10 businesses, most of which are located in Guelph’s downtown core, have signed on to the campaign.These businesses include:
- Crafty Ramen
- Borealis Grille & Bar
- Sip Club
- The Boardroom: Guelph’s Game Café
- Royal Electric Bar and Public Eatery
- eBar & Bistro
- Dstrct and Dstrct Lounge
- Miijidaa Café and Bistro
- NV Kitchen + Bar
- The Wooly Pub
The campaign originated in Tofino, British Columbia and was started by Surfrider Pacific Rim, an organization dedicated to protecting oceans. The original campaign was successful in eliminating plastic straw use in 100 per cent of businesses in Tofino by Earth Day in 2016. Since then the campaign has expanded to other areas such as Vancouver Island and Guelph.
Single-use products aren’t as disposable as consumers are led to believe. Once they’ve been tossed in the trash, they’re usually forgotten about — out of sight, out of mind. But items such as plastic bags, plastic straws, and single-serve coffee pods end up in landfills or the ocean.
The health of marine life is severely affected by plastic waste, which in turn affects humans through the food chain. Chemicals leach into the sea from plastic waste, and can adversely affect sea life that will be consumed by people. Moreover, many sea birds and other marine animals such as turtles can suffer from fatal injuries when they mistake plastic waste for their dinner or get entangled within it.
Reducing your plastic consumption by saying no to straws is just one of the ways you can reduce your environmental impact.
Some other ways to reduce your environmental impact are:
- Using reusable water bottles and containers
- Biking to work or taking public transit
- Investing in energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy sources
- Eating less meat
By making many other small changes in your life, you can make more of an impact than you may realize.
The Straws Suck campaign is a small step in the right direction, but it requires the cooperation of everyone for it to be truly successful in reducing waste. You can help by supporting eco-initiatives and by participating in eco-friendly practices in your own home.
Photo by Mariah Bridgeman/The Ontarion.