The Great Debate: REUSABLE STRAWS

The little tubes causing a new-wave movement

Is it a fad? Is it ableist? Is it actually going to make a difference? Lots of questions and debate around an unsuspecting source.

Let's talk about this. I don't mean get angry or passionate, let's explore the arguments and facts in as simple a way as possible. I, personally, have always been on the reusable straw bandwagon. When it started taking the internet by storm, I was all for it.

Why? I've always been passionate about ocean conservation. All I wanted was to work within the marine world. When my parents took me to "adult things", I was their party trick.

"Claude, tell them what you want to be when you grow up."

"A MARINE BIOLOGIST!" I was very sure of my career path at four years old.

I loved the fish and the dolphins and the protists and I detested the pollution hurting them. So, when I saw a small way we could all keep some kind of plastic out of the ocean last year going viral, I waved that banner proudly.

However, there's a lot more to it than saving turtles. Without getting too deep into each pro and con, let's take a look at the biggest claims from each side. We don't need the nittiest of the gritty, but we do have to dive in.

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Let's look at the biggest claims

1. "Less plastic will go into the environment."

According to Science magazine, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. Of that 8 billion, 0.025 percent is plastic straws. I KNOW that's a small number, but it's still a part of a whole. If we thought this way about every piece of trash in the ocean, we would never whittle away at that 8 billion. Reusable straws reduce on plastic straws entering the water, plain and simple.

2. "Reusable straws discount the disabled community."

This is perhaps one of the biggest arguments against reusable straws. I'm not an expert on this area, so I started to research. This article by Vox explained this side of the debate in a clear way. Essentially, single-use plastic straws are the safest for people who need straws. Reusable straws made of various materials present obstacles including: choking hazards, allergies, accessibility and cost. This chart was a huge help in seeing these variables in a simple format.

3. "We should be focusing on bigger things than straws."

The reusable straw movement is a small step towards a bigger paradigm shift. It may not be as drastic as eliminating harmful products altogether, but doing that wouldn't encourage people to live greener. Sustainable living is a process and it takes time for populations to adjust their lifestyles. Are there other environmental issues plaguing the planet right now? Absolutely. But this is a small, simple way to reduce single-use plastic. We can tackle pollution next.

These are the main points I found consistently for and against reusable straws, though this is a multifaceted issue. How do you feel about them? Let me know!