Why you’re now less likely to encounter plastic straws in Kansas City establishments

A tough-to-watch viral video, released a couple years ago, recently resurfaced. In it, a plastic straw is carefully extracted from the nose of a sea turtle. Despite its unpleasantness, the video has been viewed 27 million times as of this writing, bringing vital awareness to a banal but important issue: plastic straws — the kind that come in just about every single drink you have ever ordered — are really, really bad for the environment.

According to The Last Plastic Straw, a project of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, over 500 million of these seemingly harmless single-use straws are used every day in the United States alone. Unlike many other plastics, though, these straws are too lightweight to make it through the machines involved in recycling. So they end up in landfills, waterways, and, yes, even oceans. And from there, it takes an estimated 500 years for the plastic in straws to decompose.

What to do with this information? Abroad, some entire countries are exploring the idea of plastic-straw bans. A handful of U.S. cities (Seattle, Miami Beach, Malibu) have already done so. And here in Kansas City, we’re beginning to glimpse the front end of a wave that might eventually wipe out the use of these cockroach-like utensils.

A handful of new restaurants have embraced the trend right out of the gate. Clark Grant, co-owner and executive chef of the Country Club Plaza restaurant Hogshead, says Hogshead has been using EcoProducts straws since opening its doors last November. They’re more expensive than the traditional option, but Grant felt it was the more responsible choice. (The staff there also cuts the straws in half to use as drink stirrers.) Another recently opened spot, Nomad’s, on West 39th Street, offers reusable metal straws for its in-house drinks and is working on a biodegradable option for people who ask for straws with their to-go beverages. And Scott Tipton, food and beverage director for the soon-to-open Savoy at 21c Museum Hotel, notes that all eight of the 21c hotels across the country are onboard with the #stopsucking movement.

“Our guests at The Savoy will notice something missing when they order a drink,” Tipton says. “We’re excited to continue efforts to keep our oceans healthy and plastic-free. Upon request, our guests will receive biodegradable paper straws.”

Also reassessing their straw policies are the usual cast of progressive KC restaurants. Some are eliminating plastic straws altogether; others are offering them upon request only. Ça Va general manager Caitlin Corcoran says she made the switch to paper straws a year ago. The Rieger and Manifesto have also made the paper transition. Patrick Ryan, owner of Port Fonda, says his Westport spot now supplies straws only on request and will change over to only paper straws once existing inventory runs out. Rye on the Plaza, Bluestem, and Julep are doing the same; Andrew Olsen, bar manager at Rye, says he’s reached out to Aardvark, an American-made, FDA-approved straw-maker whose product decomposes in 30-60 days.

What can you do to aid the #stopsucking movement? For starters, you can stop sucking: say “No straw, please,” when you order. The Last Plastic Straw also suggests asking your favorite local cafe, bar, or restaurant to only issue straws upon request and/or change to non-plastic options.

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Andrea LeRay is on Instagram at @my.kc.