ALGOMA, WI (WTAQ) – Businesses like Starbucks and McDonald’s have begun testing alternatives to plastic straws with plans to phase them out, and, last month, the Fiserv Forum, the Bucks’ new arena in Milwaukee, announced it will not offer plastic straws at events.
The movement to eliminate plastic straws to protect the environment is picking up traction here in Wisconsin.
It’s estimated 500 million straws are used every day in the U-S. Environmentalists say they end up polluting our waterways and kill marine life.
Smashed on the Rocks, a lakeside bar and grill in Algoma recently added something new to its fully loaded Bloody Mary–
It has white and red candy cane stripes. It’s a paper straw.
“We’re on the Great Lakes and we have this restaurant on the marina. I think it’s important that we start to make this change and make people aware of it,” said Smashed on the Rocks co-Owner Rana Ninneman.
The mother and daughter owners say they’re finally ditching the plastic.
“A lot of people have been really excited about it. They agree with it and they agree that it’s a step in the right direction,” said Ninneman.
Customer Laura Tralmer, a Tomah resident, recently visited Florida where the change is well underway. She said many places didn’t have any straw alternatives.
“We needed these in Coco Beach when we were down there a couple weeks ago because of the turtles and the environment they were not giving us any straws,” said Tralmer.
Plastic straws are already banned in nearly every city in Florida.
At smashed, they’ve also decided to use biodegradable to-go boxes and silverware.
Brooke LeClaire is the co-owner of Black Honey Hashery in De Pere. She said they try to use as few plastic straws as possible.
“We greet tables with water and we don’t put straws in anybody’s water,” said LeClaire.
They do use straws in sodas, smoothies, and iced coffee drinks. They tested out paper straws for a short time, but customers didn’t react well.
“They love the idea of a paper straw but they just don’t love drinking out of them,” said LeClaire.
She says at this time plastic is the most feasible option for her business, but she looks forward to the day they’re gone.
