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Post by cadoodlebug on Jan 27, 2019 0:34:01 GMT
This caught my eye and I have trouble believing it. That means that every person ~ from newborn to 100 year-olds ~ in the US uses 1 1/2 straws a day.
Does that sound correct to you?
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Post by 950nancy on Jan 27, 2019 0:38:58 GMT
Sounds like a lot. Wondering if there is some other use that I might not be thinking of. Or is that for more than just the US?
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dald222
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,602
Jun 27, 2014 0:50:15 GMT
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Post by dald222 on Jan 27, 2019 0:45:08 GMT
I saw a show sbout saving the ocean and the 1st female diver. the ocean is full of plastics and other stuff now
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,452
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jan 27, 2019 0:51:09 GMT
I kind of believe it. There are straws on juice and milk boxes. You get straws at fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and regular dining restaurants. Some bar drinks come with straws. There are those coffee stirers that double as straws. So depending on what they included in the data it could be pretty close.
I personally don't like drinking from a straw, so I usually decline them. The only time I get one is if I'm leaving a FF place and I don't have my reusable bottle with me.
ETA: Add places like 7-11 and Quick Stop.
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Post by Really Red on Jan 27, 2019 1:05:25 GMT
I kind of believe it. There are straws on juice and milk boxes. You get straws at fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and regular dining restaurants. Some bar drinks come with straws. There are those coffee stirers that double as straws. So depending on what they included in the data it could be pretty close. I personally don't like drinking from a straw, so I usually decline them. The only time I get one is if I'm leaving a FF place and I don't have my reusable bottle with me. ETA: Add places like 7-11 and Quick Stop. It does seem hard to believe - I saw the Park Service put out that stat. But if you think of everything like @giantsfan said, it seems feasible. Every restaurant uses them in bulk!
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Post by papersilly on Jan 27, 2019 1:16:46 GMT
I use one straw a day. Sometimes two on the weekends. Not proud of it so I've been looking at reusable straws on Amazon or most likely toting around paper straws.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
Aug 16, 2014 17:52:53 GMT
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Post by likescarrots on Jan 27, 2019 1:22:33 GMT
where is the statistic from? Is it only in the US?
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Post by myshelly on Jan 27, 2019 1:24:50 GMT
I believe it.
I have several friends who eat out every day for breakfast and lunch, plus get multiple QT drinks a day.
Add in juice box straws, coffee stirrers, etc.
I don’t like to drink any cold beverage without a straw. I bought some very cute reusable straws for myself for Christmas, so that’s cutting down for me.
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Post by birukitty on Jan 27, 2019 1:33:17 GMT
I saw a show sbout saving the ocean and the 1st female diver. the ocean is full of plastics and other stuff now I saw this documentary too. It was excellent. I tracked down the name of it thanks to Google. It's called "Mission Blue" and it's on Netflix. I encourage everyone to watch it. The main focus is the ocean and it's current state. It focuses on the woman above-Her name is Dr. Sylvia A. Earle. She impressed me so much I bought a book she wrote about the subject called, "The World is Blue: How Our Fate And The Oceans's Are One" She was the first woman to use scuba gear in the early 1960's. She is an amazing marine scientist who broke the "glass ceiling" (am I using that term correctly?) for women in a field where there were no women at all during the 60's and 70's. She has dived the oceans for 60 years and because of her extended time in the water she has seen the mass amount of change. So far I've seen 3 documentaries about the amount of plastic in our oceans. Plastic straws are a huge problem because of their structure-they get into the marine life's orifices-I saw a sea turtle with one stuck up it's nose. Also they never disintegrate and we throw away so many of them, along with all of the other plastic we throw away daily. I was already recycling and had been for a few years but this film made me get even more serious about our plastic. I realized the plastic little pods my daily contacts came in could be recyclable rather than me tossing them away, so I put a glass bin on top of my bathroom counter and now after opening each one every morning in goes the plastic pods into my bin. Every little bit helps. I haven't used straws in more than 5 years-maybe 7. I quit drinking soda 7 years ago and switched to water. I no longer get sodas when I'm out-and I take a bottled water with me in a reusable thermos (a Yeti)-not in a plastic bottle. Do I believe the figure? Doing a quick Google search I found that this figure is based on estimates provided by straw manufactures. Other environmental groups believe this figure to be low. The article can be found at ecocycle.org/bestrawfree/faqs I do believe this figure. I think until we are shown what our habits literally are doing to the oceans we are not apt to change. Worse a great majority of us simply don't care-it's a matter of "me first". I'm hoping the greater majority of us do care-otherwise we are doomed. We need the oceans to survive. Obviously it's not just the straws that will kill our oceans. It's everything we do as humans without knowing the truth. The fishing techniques used today, using the oceans as garbage dumps, and other topics that are covered in the book. I can't remember if they are covered in the film as I saw it awhile ago, but it's a good film to start with. I'm sorry OP-I answered a lot more than your question. This is an important topic for me-I love the oceans dearly.
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Post by birukitty on Jan 27, 2019 1:35:07 GMT
where is the statistic from? Is it only in the US? Yes, it's only in the USA.
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,161
Jun 26, 2014 8:22:26 GMT
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Post by Gennifer on Jan 27, 2019 1:39:31 GMT
This statistic bothers me so much! My family owns a restaurant. I've tried to convince them to go straw-free, but have not been successful. I have, as a server/manager there, stopped automatically giving straws out to customers, but obviously will if they ask for them.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,029
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jan 27, 2019 1:52:43 GMT
If I eat out I am using a straw. At home I use washable ones. So if I get a coffee drink = straw (iced coffee) and if I happen to eat out which is about 1/3-1/2 time for lunch at work = straw. I’d say I average less than a straw a day.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 27, 2019 2:01:19 GMT
I use at least two on most days, in my starbucks drinks, so yeah, I believe that stat is probably pretty accurate.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jan 27, 2019 2:01:58 GMT
I think it's pretty accurate. Typically I use one straw per day. There are some folks I know that use around 3 per day because of their eating out habits.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 27, 2019 2:35:44 GMT
I don't like drinking from a straw and almost never do. I don't keep any at my house and always decline them at restaurants.
So for those of you who use above the average... I'll balance you out.
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Post by scrapsotime on Jan 27, 2019 2:39:52 GMT
I think the last time I had a drink with a straw in it was other a month ago. Some people must be using a heck of a lot of straws.
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TheOtherMeg
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Jan 27, 2019 2:41:50 GMT
I'm sorry OP-I answered a lot more than your question. This is an important topic for me-I love the oceans dearly. Thank you so much for your reply! I loved reading all the info you provided.
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 27, 2019 2:47:56 GMT
I kind of believe it. There are straws on juice and milk boxes. You get straws at fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and regular dining restaurants. Some bar drinks come with straws. There are those coffee stirers that double as straws. So depending on what they included in the data it could be pretty close. I personally don't like drinking from a straw, so I usually decline them. The only time I get one is if I'm leaving a FF place and I don't have my reusable bottle with me. ETA: Add places like 7-11 and Quick Stop. I know some people that are easily using 3-5 a day.
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Post by scrapmaven on Jan 27, 2019 2:56:45 GMT
That does sound very extreme, but I think of places where straws are necessary like hospitals. They must go through a lot of straws each day. 500 million still seems excessive.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,790
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jan 27, 2019 2:57:02 GMT
We only eat out 1-2 times a month and I no longer use straws because of this issue. Dh has never used them. We don't do fast food, and I use a refillable mug with a reusable/washable plastic straw for water. I do recycle, and I think the unnecessary use of plastics is hurting the environment terribly.
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
Jun 25, 2014 21:31:58 GMT
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jan 27, 2019 3:03:19 GMT
Unfortunately I believe it
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Jan 27, 2019 3:09:04 GMT
It’s a crazy statistic but probably accurate. I seldom use straws and recently purchased reusable silicone straws for those times that I do, but I have friends and coworkers that use several a day. Paper straws have become quite popular around here due to a plastic ban in Seattle proper.
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Post by roberta on Jan 27, 2019 3:15:12 GMT
Wow, that’s a lot of straws. I believe it with the info here but my entire household uses about 2-3 straws a month.
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Post by SweetieBugs on Jan 27, 2019 3:18:39 GMT
I don't even use 3 straws a YEAR!! That is a crazy statistic.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Jul 2, 2014 22:14:02 GMT
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Post by trollie on Jan 27, 2019 3:22:12 GMT
I believe it. I use at least one a day. I should look into purchasing some paper ones.
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Post by myshelly on Jan 27, 2019 3:23:39 GMT
I think the paper ones are disgusting.
I can’t use them. They feel horrible.
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Post by roxley on Jan 27, 2019 3:50:32 GMT
There are some good paper ones. We have a farm to table type place by us that buys really good ones. I have to have a straw for cold drinks with ice. I don’t mind these paper straws but have used some really bad ones. I believe the statistic. I think it would be really easy for places to switch to good paper ones.
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dald222
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,602
Jun 27, 2014 0:50:15 GMT
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Post by dald222 on Jan 27, 2019 3:51:17 GMT
I saw a show sbout saving the ocean and the 1st female diver. the ocean is full of plastics and other stuff now my daughter showed it to me. it was on netflix. I really loved the show too I saw this documentary too. It was excellent. I tracked down the name of it thanks to Google. It's called "Mission Blue" and it's on Netflix. I encourage everyone to watch it. The main focus is the ocean and it's current state. It focuses on the woman above-Her name is Dr. Sylvia A. Earle. She impressed me so much I bought a book she wrote about the subject called, "The World is Blue: How Our Fate And The Oceans's Are One" She was the first woman to use scuba gear in the early 1960's. She is an amazing marine scientist who broke the "glass ceiling" (am I using that term correctly?) for women in a field where there were no women at all during the 60's and 70's. She has dived the oceans for 60 years and because of her extended time in the water she has seen the mass amount of change. So far I've seen 3 documentaries about the amount of plastic in our oceans. Plastic straws are a huge problem because of their structure-they get into the marine life's orifices-I saw a sea turtle with one stuck up it's nose. Also they never disintegrate and we throw away so many of them, along with all of the other plastic we throw away daily. I was already recycling and had been for a few years but this film made me get even more serious about our plastic. I realized the plastic little pods my daily contacts came in could be recyclable rather than me tossing them away, so I put a glass bin on top of my bathroom counter and now after opening each one every morning in goes the plastic pods into my bin. Every little bit helps. I haven't used straws in more than 5 years-maybe 7. I quit drinking soda 7 years ago and switched to water. I no longer get sodas when I'm out-and I take a bottled water with me in a reusable thermos (a Yeti)-not in a plastic bottle. Do I believe the figure? Doing a quick Google search I found that this figure is based on estimates provided by straw manufactures. Other environmental groups believe this figure to be low. The article can be found at ecocycle.org/bestrawfree/faqs I do believe this figure. I think until we are shown what our habits literally are doing to the oceans we are not apt to change. Worse a great majority of us simply don't care-it's a matter of "me first". I'm hoping the greater majority of us do care-otherwise we are doomed. We need the oceans to survive. Obviously it's not just the straws that will kill our oceans. It's everything we do as humans without knowing the truth. The fishing techniques used today, using the oceans as garbage dumps, and other topics that are covered in the book. I can't remember if they are covered in the film as I saw it awhile ago, but it's a good film to start with. I'm sorry OP-I answered a lot more than your question. This is an important topic for me-I love the oceans dearly.
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Post by mustlovecats on Jan 27, 2019 4:00:38 GMT
I absolutely believe it.
We try to use fewer straws. I use a reusable cup for my iced coffee and a stainless straw, and when we go out I either decline a straw or try to remember to have a reusable with me. We have a good little collection going. My family isn’t on board yet with taking reusable cups/straws but we have no disposable straws at home anymore so we are making progress.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,691
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Jan 27, 2019 4:51:50 GMT
I was thrilled to see that meijer had a good selection of reusable straws tonight. They had a travel silicone straw in a little thin for $2.50, multi packs of glass straws, metal, ones, and a 50 pack of hard plastic ones.
I bought silicone ones for my whole team
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