Straws By Request Only in New York

Join us in asking our elected officials in New York to pass NY State bill A112 , making plastic straws available at bars and restaurants, by request-only! This bill also bans plastic stirrers. All three NY Chapters support these bills.

Straws are often littered, or caught by the wind, ending up in our streams, bays, ocean, and beaches. Plastic straws are frequently cited as one of the top ten items found in beach cleanups.

Plastic does not biodegrade, but instead, photo degrades into smaller pieces, creating pollution that is virtually impossible to remediate. Marine life can be harmed by ingesting plastic straws. For example in 2015, an Olive Ridley sea turtle was found with a four-inch plastic straw lodged in its nasal cavity, inhibiting the turtle’s breathing and sense of smell.

Other cities and states to pass similar legislation include: California, Miami Beach, and Seattle. Let’s reduce plastic straw pollution in New York State!