As the City of Victoria considers banning plastic straws, not all News readers are on board.
While some agreed that single-use plastics should be banned, like the plastic bag ban introduced in the city in July, others highlighted how alternatives may be ineffective.
READ MORE: City of Victoria considers disposable straw ban
“What about going back to paper straws? Any metal or glass straws harbour bacteria if not cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning these straws is difficult which promotes them not being cleaned but just rinses,” on reader wrote on the Victoria News Facebook page.
Besides sanitation concerns, others pointed out that people with disabilities may require plastic straws.
“Plastic straws are something like 0.0001 percent of world plastic pollution and are 100 percent necessary to disabled people,” said another reader.
Many added that paper straws can disintegrate in drinks — especially hot beverages — and can be chewed through. Metal or glass straws can pose a threat to people with different motor skills or who are prone to seizures.
In response to these comments, some suggested people should carry their own straws, putting the onus on the users rather than the businesses.
For others, the issue wasn’t about straws at all.
“Straws make up such a small percentage of the plastics that we use. I feel that by focussing on straws, both we and corporations can ignore other areas where plastics are used,” another wrote.
READ MORE: Victoria first B.C. municipality to adopt plastic bag ban
@KeiliBartlettkeili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
