6 ways to waste less when eating out
1. Skip the straw
Americans discard 500 million plastic straws every single day, according to Eco-Cycle. Based on this figure, the average person will use 38,000 or more straws between ages 5 and 65. That’s an astonishing load of non-biodegradable plastic left to litter beaches, parks and waterways—and don’t forget the amount of nonrenweable resources it takes to produce those straws in the first place. What a waste.
Although some folks truly need to use straws for various health reasons, most of us do not. Yet bars and restaurants often dole them out automatically. Next time you’re at one, say “no straw, please” and sip your beverage the old-fashioned way. You can even take it one step further and talk to the business’s management about handing out straws only when customers request them.