News Disney removing plastic straws and more by mid-2019

[John park hopper]

I think I need to invest in buying a bunch of plastic straws to sell out of the back of my trunk when they ban them in the country. LOL

Yea, need to stock pile straws like I stock piled a whole bunch of 100watt light bulbs before they band those got enough to cast my life time

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I in no way think Disney is evil I just think their motive for this is just to jump on the bandwagon of what is politically correct right now.

This has nothing to do with political correctness, which is about language that marginalizes people.

 

[jaklgreen]

If you can dream it you can do it, if you care about it you can make it work. Or you could just go the easy route and do something simple and free like removing straws. You get all the same praise for "saving the environment" and you save a ton of money.

Just imagine the meeting where this is hypothetically being discussed. Someone says "hey we can really help cut down on our waste by using reusable washable dishware". Then another manager say's "okay we'll need to order a new machine and hire another dishwasher employee". Financial person says "okay I'll start running the number to see what it costs". Then someone pipes up "hey have you heard of this new trend of removing straws, it's all over the news, lots of other companies are doing it". Then the executive say's "yeah forget the dish thing we're going with the straw idea".

Of course they could probably do it if they wanted to. But it still might not be that simple. Once you start any construction project, like running plumbing to a new dishwasher, then you have to bring everything up to new code. Let's face it, most corporations care about 1 thing, $$$$$. Good luck convincing greedy shareholders that the environment is more important then their all mighty dollar.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

The degree to which people get worked up over this sort of issue is bizarre.

This is a small thing that will reduce unnecessary waste.

Yeah, it's "just straws", but it's one more piece of the larger puzzle. We recycle pop cans now. "But it's just cans, what about all this other waste?". We incorporate recycled material into writing paper. "But it's just paper, it's a drop in the bucket compared to other waste".

Every bit helps.

Fun fact: I drink beverages at home all the time without a straw, and the liquid still magically gets from my glass to my stomach. This is such a non-issue.

 

[jaklgreen]

The degree to which people get worked up over this sort of issue is bizarre.

This is a small thing that will reduce unnecessary waste.

Yeah, it's "just straws", but it's one more piece of the larger puzzle. We recycle pop cans now. "But it's just cans, what about all this other waste?". We incorporate recycled material into writing paper. "But it's just paper, it's a drop in the bucket compared to other waste".

Every bit helps.

Fun fact: I drink beverages at home all the time without a straw, and the liquid still magically gets from my glass to my stomach. This is such a non-issue.

I don't think we need to be so dismissive of those who prefer to drink with straws. Just because YOU do not use them does not mean that others don't use them for various reasons. It is one thing to have an open cup if you are sitting at the table eating. But walking around the parks with an open cup will likely end up in many more spills, especially from kids. If they offer the sippy lids like starbucks is doing then that would help the situation. The paper straws are just weird. They soften too quickly and they have a taste to them.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I don't think we need to be so dismissive of those who prefer to drink with straws. Just because YOU do not use them does not mean that others don't use them for various reasons. It is one thing to have an open cup if you are sitting at the table eating. But walking around the parks with an open cup will likely end up in many more spills, especially from kids. If they offer the sippy lids like starbucks is doing then that would help the situation. The paper straws are just weird. They soften too quickly and they have a taste to them.

Preferences are fine, I like using straws in a theme park setting.

Many of the reactions however, are way over the top.

Personally, I'd prefer the lids with a flip up tab over the sippy cup format, for walking around with a drink.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

This has nothing to do with political correctness, which is about language that marginalizes people.

Yes it is political correctness the latest craze was when California decided banning plastic straws was going to save the world and companies like Starbucks and Disney jump on the bandwagon trying to make sure no one gets offended over their use of plastic.

 

[Nextinline]

The crux of the entire plastic straw argument is plastic's impact on the environment because it does not decompose. Once "plastic eating" bacteria take hold, no more plastic straw problem! This is the ultimate solution IMO.

https://www.popsci.com/bacteria-enzyme-plastic-waste

 

[Nextinline]

I read somewhere (can't find the article now) that wood- as in, primitive trees- predated any organism's ability to decompose wood for possibly millennia. Wood used to be Earth's plastic. Now after millions of years there are entire ecosystems developed around decomposing wood. Nature finds a way!

 

[flynnibus]

I really hope they don’t get rid of the individual soaps in the park restrooms.

buahahaha... I love this

 

[flynnibus]

This sounds very simple but in reality it posses bigger problems then you might think. So they go to all reusable plates and silverware, you now need an industrial dishwasher and staff to handle the load. Maybe the old buildings do not have the space, plumbing, etc to be able to do this. Then there are the different health codes that need to be followed with where they can put the dishwasher and clean dishes. It might be possible in some of the locations but I doubt all of them. They would need to keep on top of the bussing so there is not food left out in the open for the bugs and birds so they will need more staff. It probably is cheaper for them to use the disposable plates. I work in food and we get quite a few people that will order their food to go and then sit down and eat it there. IDK why all of them do it but some say they don't like to eat off of restaurant plates because it "grosses them out". Which of course is silly since we prepped the food there.

The push for using non-disposible plateware/etc is a nice one.. but as you say the choice is not just a 'policy' one, but rather a practical matter of how to retrofit existing facilities not built for it. It's a significant change, not just 'why didn't they do that instead...' well there are lots of reasons Where as the alternative is far less radical a change to implement.

I love that DL uses the plates and forks more.. but you have to be built for it.

 

[Nubs70]

How many pounds of plastic will this save?

 

[flynnibus]

And there are plenty of phobic people in that thread, so I have to think that this phobia against using a shampoo pump that has been used by a stranger is more common that you'd think.

The idea stupidity or hypocritical behavior is not unique... really isn't a valid defense for it.

 

[flynnibus]

If you want an example of radical change that really does have a negative impact... consider the idea of removing 'take away' packaging. That's what my old university did at their dining halls... switched to 'eat in only' - you literally can't take food out of the dining halls. All in the spirit of 'reducing waste' through removal of all the foam containers, etc. That's the kind of change that has direct impact on how people function and work through their days... and is overbboard IMO.

Reducing straws... like the idea of 'only putting packets in when people ask' is just a step towards reducing consumption - not trying to flip the world on its head.

 

[jaklgreen]

If you want an example of radical change that really does have a negative impact... consider the idea of removing 'take away' packaging. That's what my old university did at their dining halls... switched to 'eat in only' - you literally can't take food out of the dining halls. All in the spirit of 'reducing waste' through removal of all the foam containers, etc. That's the kind of change that has direct impact on how people function and work through their days... and is overbboard IMO.

Reducing straws... like the idea of 'only putting packets in when people ask' is just a step towards reducing consumption - not trying to flip the world on its head.

Or they can use the recycled cardboard take out containers that many places use. No plastic and you can still take your food with you.

 

[flynnibus]

No my point is if the change is forced on the consumer it often doesn't have the desired impact. More thoughtful solutions are more efficient at reducing waste.

So again... should we NOT do things simply because bigger, harder, more expensive options may do more?

The argument that OTHER options have OTHER impacts and consquences is not really a valid reason to NOT do something that has it's own merits... because you aren't constrained to only pick one going forward.

 

[flynnibus]

Or they can use the recycled cardboard take out containers that many places use. No plastic and you can still take your food with you.

Yes, but then they can't control where people throw stuff away! Read the news on the 'success' of the program to see how you can spin such constraints into huge wins http://www.dbknews.com/2017/03/02/umd-anytime-dining-food-waste/

 

[larryz]

The crux of the entire plastic straw argument is plastic's impact on the environment because it does not decompose. Once "plastic eating" bacteria take hold, no more plastic straw problem! This is the ultimate solution IMO.

https://www.popsci.com/bacteria-enzyme-plastic-waste

Did you ever see the classic sci-fi film The Andromeda Strain?

 

[jaklgreen]

Yes, but then they can't control where people throw stuff away! Read the news on the 'success' of the program to see how you can spin such constraints into huge wins http://www.dbknews.com/2017/03/02/umd-anytime-dining-food-waste/

I can see how this works in a college setting. It would not work in real life restaurants. Some people need to take their food to go. My grandmother is 91 and rarely leaves her home because she is old and frail. We bring her a variety of take out food not only so she does not get bored with the same stuff but also so she gets excited about what is coming next. You can not force everyone to sit and eat at your restaurant because you do not want to do takeout.

 

[Lensman]

Did you ever see the classic sci-fi film The Andromeda Strain?

Michael Crichton's classic 1969 novel was the stuff of nightmares for me when I read it as a teen. I also had nightmares after reading Gerry Davis and Kit Pedlar's 1971 novel, Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters, about a plastic eating virus pandemic that threatens civilization. Great stuff!

I can see how this works in a college setting. It would not work in real life restaurants. Some people need to take their food to go. My grandmother is 91 and rarely leaves her home because she is old and frail. We bring her a variety of take out food not only so she does not get bored with the same stuff but also so she gets excited about what is coming next. You can not force everyone to sit and eat at your restaurant because you do not want to do takeout.

I think you can. It's known as restaurants that don't have take-out. For instance, doing take-out for a seven-course Victoria & Alberts meal just does not make sense. The same goes for The French Laundry or Per Se.

I'm not sure what your point is, could you explain further?