Lawmakers in Florida may soon pass a ban on paper straws in the state. This would pose a problem for Walt Disney World which almost exclusively uses paper straw products.
Disney World & Paper Straws
Beginning in 2018, Disney’s Environmental Goals Program set a series of commitments to eliminate single-use plastic straws, plastic stirrers and polystyrene cups at all owned and operated locations across the globe. As a result, they eliminated over 200 million plastic straws and stirrers along with other plastic items. By 2023, Walt Disney World stopped even handing out or offering paper straws and plastic lids at quick-service restaurants and snack locations with a goal to achieve zero landfill waste by 2030.
Now, it appears that Disney may have to shift gears once again. Senate Bill 958 was introduced December 18 along with an identical House Bill on December 26. These bills would “limit what cities and counties can do to regulate drinking straws and stirrers.”
According to the article by Fox 13 News,
“Many businesses and communities in this state are using paper drinking straws and stirrers as a purportedly better option for public health and the environment,” HB 2195 states. However, independent university studies have shown that most paper straws contain harmful PFAS chemicals, exposure to which is linked to concerning health risks.”
The bill states that any regulation of drinking straws must be based on “government policy driven by science.”
Researchers at University of Antwerp in Belgium have found that “90% of paper straw brands tested contained PFAS chemicals.”
Researchers found PFAS chemicals in 27 of 39 different straw variants, concluding the chemicals were most likely used as a water-repellent coating.
PFAS chemicals were most frequently detected in paper straws.
If passed, the law would take effect on January 1, 2027 and require replacements to “be renewable, home- and industrial-compostable certified and marine biodegradable.”
If this does occur, Disney might make the switch to biodegradable sugarcane straws, commonly used by Joffrey’s and a few other locations on property. The sugar straws are flavorless and odorless and do not break down in the drink like the paper ones tend to do.
Other Florida theme parks use paper straws as well, so a ban would impact more than just Walt Disney World.
What do you think of the possible paper straw ban? Share your thoughts in the comments and on social media.
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