Plastic Straw Problem in 2024: Why Cleanup Costs Remain So High and What’s Next

Brush Stroke Karmactive Staff

Plastic straws, made from resilient polypropylene, persist in our environment for over 200 years without biodegrading - instead breaking into toxic fragments that poison marine ecosystems.

[{"selector":"#anim-97c1f085-cc51-495e-88d4-b3dbfc18da3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b66a5c02-7bce-46ac-85fb-767450a2e7d5","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05b366c8-bf77-4dbf-a744-ddaa852bfb6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e4ca073-661c-4fee-bf3d-df61921bc8f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2ec2c21-cc80-4ea0-a167-3874aefde8fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d19bda56-cbbb-4edf-b1c5-6f88a40f7734","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a055261f-fbb7-4e0b-9baa-9fcdd24cfc10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.97825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Chemist 4 U ( CC BY 2.0)

Beach cleanup volunteers around the globe consistently rank plastic straws among their top 10 finds, with these lightweight tubes traveling thousands of miles through ocean currents into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

[{"selector":"#anim-28717fdb-5152-473c-b6ab-e1c5a5712c9c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-622157dd-daf7-45c9-b07b-e71867921c3e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-927782b1-2fc4-440f-afdc-1b42e98375d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08371a15-8057-40fd-b3c0-889dab86c3d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63502827-48d5-48ba-b728-2146aa9637cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.72527%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke

When marine animals mistake plastic straws for food, the consequences are fatal - blocking digestive systems, causing starvation, and entangling sea turtles, seabirds, and fish in increasing numbers each year.

[{"selector":"#anim-86320c41-ec86-4581-94a2-88b887b26a86","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a971749d-f0b7-4380-8b28-056d0947a338","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0487c419-1ac6-4b78-8d2b-1a77d0974c9e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a069a55-c2c8-4bf0-89da-3fa5c8da368b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.97825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-842fdca6-6958-4f3f-a56a-78d4cccfccc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8db38879-660d-453c-b92b-6d495bcf1129","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a09ca8b-69c9-4807-9261-fb1dc2ab59b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Coast Guard News ( CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Microplastics from degraded straws have been found in plankton, fish, and shellfish - these particles smaller than 5mm accumulate in marine organisms before making their way into human food supplies.

[{"selector":"#anim-764f202a-d780-49cb-abac-ced86513027e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ca1792f-83f0-4046-af2c-309f87881d39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ac6891a-cfdd-4340-bd2c-f42d63a1a714","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.72527%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30d40ec7-f728-4f86-b73e-ac5b7ce0b343","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98e8c0f2-27e2-4bff-a32f-eb16e7520c17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8713e35b-6465-467e-ad83-52295e6de3cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Australian Institute of Marine Science

Governments and environmental organizations spend millions annually cleaning plastic waste from beaches and oceans, while coastal tourism drops sharply in areas visibly affected by straw and plastic pollution.

[{"selector":"#anim-9476d020-4da7-470f-8711-a4901037d5eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d49be65a-ec4f-4b07-a935-2f5491513a66","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79c66c4c-700d-4d26-b727-26cec5788002","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c071249-7e34-4bc7-be87-6a6f2842356e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.97825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b07757b1-5efa-4812-9645-b80e7d801830","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e310c38-24cc-4d72-aaf9-3589ecd50687","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke

The annual production of plastic straws requires massive amounts of fossil fuels and releases greenhouse gases - contributing to both resource depletion and climate change.

[{"selector":"#anim-97e37440-9c33-43d8-920d-422fae847350","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-557ace3d-e770-4ab2-aef4-fd9be8081fab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25185f59-3b66-4366-8e9c-979835e5128e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.72527%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-893468a8-967b-45b7-9f43-303e04f13435","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bfe83e8-6e73-40c6-88b8-db0aa27cff6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39d31601-a9e3-4d51-bb5d-a5ba33e17a92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Marco Verch (CC-BY 2.0)

Most recycling facilities cannot process plastic straws due to their small size and light weight, resulting in billions of straws ending up in landfills, incinerators, or worse - our oceans.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3af4d4d-013a-43f3-81cd-eb990eec4265","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33bbf111-8457-42a8-9120-017c92c821b0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a22aba0b-681e-4c11-aaae-8232aeb01096","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4436e61b-58fe-4593-9a40-2a8533e15458","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.97825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6e6303f-0968-4e24-9f54-fe35fc707d80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dac9ba27-bf93-4792-a8c4-e1e3e8e50111","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-363949e4-b623-4e6d-b612-f5b627199c8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: EARTH.ORG

Sustainable alternatives like stainless steel, bamboo, glass, and paper straws have gained popularity, with major restaurant chains adopting these options to reduce their environmental footprint.

[{"selector":"#anim-ce7a2df7-81a3-4223-9a6c-8907be9735e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee08e894-a17a-4069-bd05-c641794a864e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c6b9558-3499-4004-8938-c24266a45670","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.72527%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca6b9e46-8879-4a78-b4ef-2f852c95d957","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8f8b275-1e54-453c-a43c-d52369327e1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdd7b6f0-7e04-4cc9-b00e-97e2ee3ceab7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: FDR Presidential Library & Museum ( CC BY 2.0)

Countries worldwide have implemented plastic straw bans and restrictions, leading to measurable reductions in coastal pollution and inspiring broader environmental reforms.

[{"selector":"#anim-bb3f4172-4817-41c8-adde-3c939c8ecf47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15714206-54e2-4957-8ba6-9de43858f820","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ba7cad5-c6f5-4a23-9b30-caf79795d6ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3279d36a-a529-4b06-a9af-6840e8485fee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.97825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f60d5029-ee40-4527-a4cb-7c45816df843","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f4290d0-ac1d-4216-8e76-23df59c17d27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90ada987-b6b7-4d79-be90-329ca510af0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Chemist 4 U ( CC BY 2.0)