Straws are small, but restaurants and cafes go through a lot of them. In 2018, California's Assembly Bill 1884 made it the first state to stop full-service restaurants from handing out plastic straws unless a customer asks for one. Cities such as Seattle have gone further.
A short history
Paper straws were patented in the 1880s. Plastic took over in the mid-1900s because it was cheap and did not go soggy. The bendy straw, invented in the 1930s, made straws easier to use in hospitals and for kids.
Why straws became a policy target
- They are used for minutes and often not recyclable in curbside programs.
- They are light and easily become litter.
- They are easy for businesses to reduce with a straws-on-request policy.
Choosing an alternative
- Offer straws on request. This alone cuts usage.
- Test performance. A straw that goes soggy in a 45-minute iced coffee will frustrate guests.
- Check certification and local rules. Ask for the certificate that names the straw, and check what your local program accepts.
Read straw materials compared and California's straw law, or see our wholesale straws, extruded in Santa Ana, California.
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