Excerpt from “I Need Plastic Straws To Drink. I Also Want To Save the Environment.”by Robyn PowellI have used plastic straws my entire life because I cannot pick up a cup. Without straws, I amunable to drink anything independently. Straws may be a luxury for some people, but for me, theyare a necessity.Like most people, I was extremely troubled by the viral video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck inits nose. It led me to purchase reusable straws, which I use at home. However, I have continued touse plastic straws at restaurants and other public establishments because drinking is necessary,and plastic straws are what’s available.I’m accustomed to having straws readily accessible to me when I’m out in public. And as more andmore cities and states seek to ban them, I’ve gotten concerned about the unintendedconsequences these bans will have on people with disabilities. How will I drink if straws are nolonger available?Some have suggested providing reusable or compostable straws as the answer. However, as PacificStandard writer David Perry recently explained, “metal, wood, or glass straws can be dangerous,uncomfortable, or ineffective for [some people with disabilities].” For example, metal and bamboostraws can be dangerous for people with Parkinson’s disease because they are too strong.Likewise, paper straws become soggy over time, which can become a choking hazard.Furthermore, reusable and compostable straws are generally more expensive than plastic ones,which is important to note, because poverty is more prevalent among people with disabilities; in2016, nearly 27 percent of people with disabilities lived below the federal poverty level comparedwith 10 percent of non-disabled people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. I’m fortunate that Ican afford reusable straws and that my disability does not affect my ability to use them, but thisisn’t the case for many in the disability community.
