Sir, First, let me congratulate the children of Sunnyside Primary School in Glasgow school on their efforts to combat unnecessary plastic waste by highlighting plastic straws, featured in last week’s Banner. However, it must be remembered that, for some people, using a straw is not a choice but a necessity to be able to drink independently.
Many disabled people, including myself, find paper straws unfit for purpose. I have used paper straws many times, mainly on Arran, and always find that half way through my drink, the straw is soggy and unpleasant in my mouth, and too squashed to get any more liquid out, meaning I resort to the emergency supplies of plastic straws I always carry so I can finish the drink. The alternative is using two to three paper straws per drink, which could also be seen as unnecessary waste.
Maybe as part of their campaign, the children could encourage paper straw manufacturers to produce more robust paper straws, which could be used efficiently and effectively by all members of society, something I would certainly support.