Disney Is The Latest Company To Ban Plastic Straws
The Walt Disney Company is the latest major corporation to announce that they will eliminate plastic straws and stirrers at all of their locations, worldwide.They join Starbucks, Marriott, and MGM properties, all who are concerned enough about ocean pollution to institute a ban.
Disney issued a statement saying that they will implement the elimination by 2019 as part of their 'long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship'. The city of Seattle has instituted a complete ban on plastic straws, and San Francisco is in the process of doing the same thing. Their ban would begin on July 1, 2019.
In another effort to cut back on environmental waste, Disney announced that they will also begin a program of refillable amenities in hotels and cruise ships in the coming years. Does this mean we won't be able to take home the little bottles of shampoo and lotion anymore?
Look, I get the concern about plastic straws, and how they are polluting our oceans. But I don't understand why these companies aren't switching to biodegradable paper straws. I know the ban on plastic is going to save them billions of dollars, but it seems like they are doing it more to save money, than concern over our environment. I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about this, because I don't want to appear uncaring, but I really do need a straw for some drinks. Am I alone with this concern?