TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Some restaurants switching from single use

Buccaneer has switched also

As stated in the article along with Dingy Dock.

On our last day on the island (9/15) and on the way to the airport my wife and I made a stop at the Buccaneer where my wife and I ordered frozen drinks. She a Strawberry Daiquiri and I a BBC. They came with the paper straws. The problem with that type of straw, IMHO, is that they don't hold up well with thick drinks/liquids. We asked the bartender for straws 3 times while consuming those drinks. It wasn't really a big deal, just a small inconvenience to us but a life saving action for the sea life. I wish I could figure an alternative to the plastic straw that was not the high cost of plastic and cheap enough to be comparable to paper that could be edible too.

I heard on the TV News that some places in USA are using bamboo straws

I have purchased a couple of kinds of "permanent" straws from Amazon that I plan to carry with me while on SXM. They come with a brush to clean the straws. I just need to figure out something to put them in to carry in my purse. There are all kinds available on Amazon.

I was just going to mention those straws. A ziplock rolled up would work.

Some people have purchased stainless steel straws and carry them in plastic toothbrush holders which work very well.

Um, I just drink out of the glass.

That's the best solution.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution.

BYO Straw. The Mrs. recently bought 4 stainless steel straws with rubber tips. Very handy and wise, especially with kids in tow.

Me too. I cannot remember the last time I drank using a straw!

Only time I can remember was a BBC at the BBB or a milk shake back home.

Shame of the restaurants to be so impulsive on an issue so minor as banning plastic straws. Sure it 'feels' good, but will do almost nothing to help protect the seas. It certainly will alter the drinking habits and enjoyment of thousands of consumers and tourists to St Marteen over and over.

It is estimated that St Marteen produces just 40 tons of mis-managed plastic waste per year when last measured in 2010. The total mis-managed plastic waste in the World at the same time is 31,865,274 tons. Of that the US is responsible for 275,424 tons or 0.83% of the worlds total plastic waste. The study authors estimate that no more than 30% of that ends up in the oceans. China accounts for 8,819,717 tons of plastic waste or 28% of the worlds total. Second worst is Indonesia at 3,216,856 tons of mis-managed plastic waste. Figure that 30% might go into the oceans, then in St Marteen less than 12 tons of waste slip away.

I would agree that 1 ton is too much, but lets be realistic. Banning plastic straws will have a negligible effect on the plastic waste stream. Packaging, wrapping, bags and containers are the bigger culprit. Eliminating straws makes it harder for the disabled to consume a drink. The better strategy is to work with manufacturers to eliminate plastic upstream so consumers have less to throw away into landfills (which in St Marteen we know is badly mismanaged).

Every journey begins with a single step.

It's not just plastic straws. Changes these restaurants are doing includes not using single use containers too. Any reduction is better than sticking your head in the sand and doing nothing.

Impulsive??? We've been trying for years to stop the waste here. It's not impulsive, it's smart. Especially on our island.

BTW - where in the world is St Marteen?

I'm speechless

Seriously, Why should the restaurants be shamed? You are throwing out a Red Herring there. Yes, plastics = big problem. But, If the Restaurants in St. Martin to cut down on waste and keeping out the environments (streets beeches landfill), its their choice, there is nothing wrong with it.

EVERY straw matters!!!

And I think this poor creature would agree. Just think of the sea turtles around Tintamarre!!!

My head is not in the sand and I whole heartedly agree that we need to reduce debris that escapes into the ocean. My beef is with targeting straws. I happen to like having a straw to stir my frozen drink when it sits for a bit and starts to separate. I like my straw when I have a fountain drink in my car and there is a lid on the beverage so it wont spill. I like having a straw when my mouth may be dirty from working outside and I don't want to contaminate a glass. I happen to like my straw when I share a drink and my wife and I use 2 different ones. I like my straw when I need to blow sand out of a crevice using directed air. I like my straw when I need to let air out of a pool float.

I don't like when government tells me I cannot get a straw - when banning them will have no measurable impact on the problem. I throw away more plastic in a meal in the form of the plate, fork, knife and spoon. Why not ban all plastic utensils to include straws? That makes more sense -- yet there certainly would be a public outcry. *Geeze, have to carry our own utensils when eating out at the beach* Common sense should prevail -- not emotional, feel good government responses (see turtle above).

Use a different kind of straw (metal, paper) like we used to before plastic straws. Sorry if you're inconvenienced a little. It has to start somewhere. It's not just government -- this has been a public outcry for a while now.

Geeze. Bring your own reusable straw or ask for a spoon to stir your drink.

My two bits to add, besides the environment plastic straws are less enjoyable to use than natural products like paper. I also think they need to ban plastic cups and all styro products. Yes it cost more but it is insignficant compared to the normal spend for the items they contain. Added bonus, less of a toxic smell when they burn at the dump.

I also suggest googling George Carlin on Plastic, worth a watch.

43 days and counting down!

Sorry. Missed something here.... When was the government mentioned? Nope not seeing it. Looks like this is all voluntary. Probably feels good too.

As far as government is concerned, there have been proposals put forward for years to legally ban plastic bags, which have gone nowhere.

And that's a shame. Its great some businesses are being proactive and initiating them selves.

Question for anyone that knows. The beach bars use a lot of Solo type cups, so are they going to paper cups or washable maybe? We always bring Yeti cups with the reusable straws, and ask them to make the drink in them if they will.

That's all up to the individual bars and businesses to do that as there are no laws making any business to that.