On average, Americans use one straw per week per person. That comes to 15 billion straws per year, enough so that, if they were laid side-by-side, they would cover the entire state of Texas to a depth of three miles. (Shakes his calculator.) At least, that's what I think this thing is telling me.
But seriously, do we really need to be dumping that many straws into landfills every year? Sure, for to-go cups and milk shakes, it makes sense. But why do we suddenly become so lazy when we go to a sit-down restaurant, that we can't drink straight from a glass like we do when we're home?
Given that straws are made from plastic, and plastic contains petroleum, by reducing our use of these little gadgets, we would also be helping the global fuel shortage. The impact would no doubt be small, but so would the effect on our lifestyles.
Sure, straw manufacturers would have to tighten their belts, but they wouldn't be forced out of business. They still have the afore-mentioned to-go and milk shake market.
It's time for environmentally conscious restaurants to start offering stay-in straws on request only, and for patrons to begin saying, "No straw for me, thanks," when they order their drinks.
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