I won't miss them. Next thing to go is plastic water bottles. Or at least raise the deposit price so people have to recycle. Be smart.
I won't miss them. Next thing to go is plastic water bottles. Or at least raise the deposit price so people have to recycle. Be smart.
The UK has been going through this for a while. I've recently been to 2 restaurants and been told that they don't have plastic straws and don't have an alternative! Ask how someone like me, paralysed from the neck down is meant to drink during a meal given that I have a trache and struggle to swallow at times is meant to do to be met by a blank expression. I just tell them it'll not put other diners off if I choke on food. We do always take a metal straw but it can be difficult to get it properly cleaned if you have a few coffees whilst out.
These new lids apparently use more plastic than the previous lid/straw combo due to thickness. My local recycling center put out a request to stop sending plastic grocery bags because they were jamming the machines. So we use the cloth bags as much as possible. I have those metal straws and the cleaning brushes. You have to be thorough rinsing any soap residue out (you'll taste it) and they conduct heat really well if using with hot liquid so keep that in mind.
Many people with certain disabilities (MS, Parkinson's, TBI, and CP come to mind immediately) cannot use the hard metal or glass straws as they risk damage to their mouth or teeth due to jaw clenching/tremor/spasm. Paper straws often collapse and fall apart, especially in hot liquids. Not everyone with a disability has the same issues (or lack of them) that someone with a SCI has.
(KLD)
The SCI-Nurses are advanced practice nurses specializing in SCI/D care. They are available to answer questions, provide education, and make suggestions which you should always discuss with your physician/primary health care provider before implementing. Medical diagnosis is not provided, nor do the SCI-Nurses provide nursing or medical care through their responses on the CareCure forums.
A company named Tervis makes practically indestructible plastic insulated tumblers and mugs. They make durable bendable plastic straws that come in a package of assorted colors or in a frosted finish. They can be cleaned with a brush similar to the one I posted above.
The key is to remember to remove them from the glass you are using at the restaurant and take them home. I use a universal cuff with my own fork. I've left my fair share of these at restaurants in 35 years.
https://www.tervis.com/flexible-stra...h-1067655.html
Last edited by gjnl; 07-31-2018 at 05:27 PM.
Seems you are creating another panic...replacing plastic for paper is great for the environment which you never mention...?
If one needs to use a certain style straw or bring one of there own its not an issue. Its not that a customer will not have straws they just wont have plastic but paper.
Remember children still will need straws too.
We did fine in the 60's and 70's before plastic came out!
We always have a few bendable paper extended (longer) straws in our van, suitcase and backpack...Never an issue!
I ordered a package of flexible plastic straws from the Sammons Preston catalog and keep several in my wheelchair backpack, so in case I am somewhere that doesn't have straws, I still have one to use. I also have used those solid colored sippy cups for toddlers. There is one by Sassy that doesn't have a spout, so it looks less babyish that I found on Amazon.