# How to dispose of single-use plastic drinking straws **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071 "2019-08-22T17:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/1 "2019-08-22T17:11:22Z")
How do I dispose of single-use plastic drinking straws in a way that they won’t end up jammed in a sea turtle’s nose? We’ve all seen [the horrific video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw), and while it’s certainly informative and horrifying, they don’t actually offer a solution, besides “Don’t use plastic straws.” Got it. I have stainless steel straws I use at home and at work, and I always ask for “no straw” but sometimes they just give you one anyways. How do I properly dispose of the ones I’ve already got? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/2 "2019-08-22T17:57:09Z")
Don’t throw it in the ocean? The overwhelming vast majority will end up in a landfill, not a turtle’s nose. If you are really that worried about it, burn it. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/3 "2019-08-22T18:10:05Z")
There is a theory that the great pacific garbage patch is recycled plastic that was sent from the Eest to China and China just dumped the ships to the ocean because of poor quality of recycle. Since China has practically stopped accepting recycling from US/Europe, most of US recycled plastics is going into landfills. The best course of action in my opinion will be to lobby waste management and your government to build safe incinerators. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/4 "2019-08-22T18:13:25Z")
Is the video of a turtle getting a straw stuck up its nose the reason they’re banning plastic straws? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/5 "2019-08-22T18:15:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “Don’t use plastic straws.” You already had the correct answer. You just don’t like it. Tough. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/6 "2019-08-22T18:16:16Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > There is a theory that the great pacific garbage patch is recycled plastic that was sent from the Eest to China and China just dumped the ships to the ocean because of poor quality of recycle. > > Since China has practically stopped accepting recycling from US/Europe, most of US recycled plastics is going into landfills. > > The best course of action in my opinion will be to lobby waste management and your government to build safe incinerators. The garbage patch is mostly microplastics \<0.5 cm, so while possible, it’s not plausible. Larger pieces can certainly decay into small pieces. Second part seems to be true, and Waste Management is becoming strict about their acceptance policies. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/7 "2019-08-22T18:39:55Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The garbage patch is mostly microplastics \<0.5 cm, so while possible, it’s not plausible. Larger pieces can certainly decay into small pieces. > . This is not my theory but mentioned by Professor Thomas Kinnaman of Bucknell University. The podcast was “Planet Money” Episode number 926. You can find the transcript of the show here :[So, Should We Recycle? : Planet Money : NPR](https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=741283641) Excerpt from the show : > [@](#): > > GONZALEZ: OK. We know that there is a big pile of plastic floating in the ocean, and Thomas is like, how do you think it got there? One bottle at a time, really? > > KINNAMAN: You could imagine, oh, that big pile of plastic in the ocean came from the odd bottle being blown off the dock in San Francisco Bay and it went out there and joined all of its friends, and they’re all hanging out out there off of the coast of Hawaii. That’s probably a very tiny part of it. Countries historically dumped waste out in the ocean. > > GONZALEZ: You guys, Thomas is saying that our valiant recycling efforts have been hurting the ocean. > > MALONE: And those cute sea turtles. > > KINNAMAN: If you’re given two options if you’re in the middle part of the country - there’s a landfill about 50 miles away or put it on a boat to China - and ask yourself which plastic bottle is most likely to end up in the ocean, I’ll let you answer that yourself. > > … ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/8 "2019-08-22T19:03:03Z")
Here’s another idea, if you really want that straw destroyed - twist it and put it inside a aluminum soda can and recycle it. Aluminum cans have a plastic (epoxy) coating inside them which they burn off during recycling. Presumably your straw will be burned off too. (I am saying the above “tongue-in-cheek”. Please lobby your local waste leadership to build incinerators) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/9 "2019-08-22T19:04:24Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > This is not my theory but mentioned by Professor Thomas Kinnaman of Bucknell University. > > The podcast was “Planet Money” Episode number 926. You can find the transcript of the show here :[So, Should We Recycle? : Planet Money : NPR](https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=741283641) > > Excerpt from the show : Thanks. I’m reading another article, looks like the biggest source though is from nets and other commercial fishing equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/10 "2019-08-23T09:53:28Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > You already had the correct answer. You just don’t like it. Tough. While that might be the answer to some question, it is certainly not the answer to the question he asked. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/11 "2019-08-23T15:19:19Z")
It is clear that the OP is talking about disposing of straws already in ones possession. Not using them doesn’t seem to apply to this situation at all. If you want to give a terse answer then sending them to a landfill seems best. The problem is that to ensure that random straws don’t get strewn about on the journey then wrap them up in something. A plastic garbage bag is obvious but the bag itself is a problem. So, paper bags? Let’s cut down more trees. (And I have no idea why such an incredibly trivial component in the plastic waste stream like straws got singled out. Disposable plastic bags are easy to see multiple problems with. But straws???) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/12 "2019-08-23T19:52:35Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > (And I have no idea why such an incredibly trivial component in the plastic waste stream like straws got singled out. Disposable plastic bags are easy to see multiple problems with. But straws???) Because plastic straws are entirely unnecessary (humans drank liquids for centuries without them) and they are a single-use product. (Usually wrapped in a paper sleeve, additional waste.) Plastic bags at least can be re-used multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/13 "2019-08-23T19:55:38Z")
News flash- drinks all taste better if one doesn’t drink then through a straw. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/14 "2019-08-23T22:42:09Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > News flash- drinks all taste better if one doesn’t drink then through a straw. Except milkshakes. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/15 "2019-08-24T00:08:29Z")
If you are in the US or Europe, just throw it in the trash, and it’ll end up being buried in a landfill. There chance it’ll end up in the ocean is small enough that it’d be more productive to worry about other ways you may be harming wildlife & the environment. [Skeptoid](https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4665) had a good episode about it. From it: > [@](#): > > …Its results, widely reported in the world press, found that the majority of ocean trash comes from just a few nations, all in the Asia Pacific region. By far the worst offender is China — which should come as no great surprise — producing about three times as much ocean trash as the second worst offender, Indonesia. Indonesia is almost twice as bad as the third worst offender, the Philippines. The rest taper steadily downward from there: Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh. Together, this top 10 is responsible for 70% of all the plastic in the oceans — with China and Indonesia alone accounting for almost half the total. > > The surprise on the list is the United States. Many people expect to see it near the top of the list of worst polluters, as Americans are responsible for 2.6 kilograms of trash per person per day (more than twice as much as Chinese). However, the US is way down at 20th on the list of plastic ocean polluters, adding less than 1% of the total. The reason is that the United States is among the leaders in responsible waste management. … ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/16 "2019-08-24T00:53:03Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > (And I have no idea why such an incredibly trivial component in the plastic waste stream like straws got singled out. Disposable plastic bags are easy to see multiple problems with. But straws???) I think it’s because the way they’re used and the way they’re shaped makes them particularly susceptible to sliding down drains and winding up in the ocean. When I worked in restaurants, we would dump out drink glasses, which usually had some liquid, ice, and a straw, into a drain pan before putting the empty glass in a dish rack. The ice would melt, the water would drain, and the dishwashers (the people, not the machines) would periodically scoop out the straws and throw them away. But I could easily see a few of them slipping through the cracks. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/17 "2019-08-24T12:27:24Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > Because plastic straws are entirely unnecessary (humans drank liquids for centuries without them) and they are a single-use product. (Usually wrapped in a paper sleeve, additional waste.) Plastic bags at least can be re-used multiple times. What you say is true but the same thing is true of a massive number of other things, including take-out food containers and virtually 100% of consumer product packaging, so this does not explain why plastic straws are singled out. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/18 "2019-08-24T22:02:56Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It is clear that the OP is talking about disposing of straws already in ones possession. Not using them doesn’t seem to apply to this situation at all. > > If you want to give a terse answer then sending them to a landfill seems best. > > The problem is that to ensure that random straws don’t get strewn about on the journey then wrap them up in something. A plastic garbage bag is obvious but the bag itself is a problem. So, paper bags? Let’s cut down more trees. Much of the wood used by paper companies in the U.S. comes from privately owned tree farms, where forests are planted, groomed and thinned for harvest in 20 to 35 year cycles, depending on the tree species. Its a renewable resource. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/19 "2019-08-24T22:25:07Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > I think it’s because the way they’re used and the way they’re shaped makes them particularly susceptible to sliding down drains and winding up in the ocean. When I worked in restaurants, we would dump out drink glasses, which usually had some liquid, ice, and a straw, into a drain pan before putting the empty glass in a dish rack. The ice would melt, the water would drain, and the dishwashers (the people, not the machines) would periodically scoop out the straws and throw them away. But I could easily see a few of them slipping through the cracks. So then how does a straw make it through the “S” shaped trap. It’s not like they are flexible or short enough. Even for the crumpled ones, they would be getting caught by one of the many filters at the sewage plant. Very seldom in a western nation are sewage drains run straight into the ocean. Maybe a flood event that overwhelms the system or from a boat at sea. Otherwise I can not think of any. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071/20 "2019-08-24T22:49:19Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Except milkshakes. Especially milkshakes. Drinking a milkshake through a straw gives you so little flavor that you might as well not drink it at all. And a really good milkshake will be too thick to go through a straw anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-single-use-plastic-drinking-straws/839071.md?page=2)