News Disney removing plastic straws and more by mid-2019

[rnese]

If she was my daughter I would make sure that I always carried a non disposable straw so that I knew I always had one on hand, but thats me. And of course I don't mean ill for someone in that situation. It's not a bad attitude, it's looking at the greater good and knowing that drinking out of a cup and not having a straw at one of the biggest tourist populated area could help reduce the trash that we produce is pretty awesome in my opinion.

"the greater good". Good thing THAT term has only been used by wonderful, well-intentioned people throughout human history. Good grief.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I respect your right to be a tree hugger. However, as posted above in response to somebody else, the USA has banned dumping plastic (bags, straws, anything plastic) in the ocean since 1972. Your straw or plastic bag will not end up in a whale's stomach if you place it in a trash receptacle in the USA.

I get that and I'm happy that the US has banned that but Disney has parks in other countries as well. It has to start somewhere and if I have to drink without a straw then I'll learn to deal with it.

 

[Tom P.]

The problem with your whole argument is assuming that it all goes into a landfill. Not even close to being true. If it did maybe they might be less of a uproar. The oceans are our friend and we are absolutely destroying it. Scientists agree on that point.

Unless you think that millions of average people are hauling their own personal plastic waste down to the nearest beach and dumping it into the ocean, then it absolutely is true for the United States. As has been pointed out, the United States has banned the dumping of plastic waste into the ocean since 1972. It is countries like China that are filling the ocean with that kind of garbage, not the United States.

 

[rnese]

I mean, I hope you got the Carousel of Progress joke and didn't assume that was a name calling...

I did. Irony doesn't come out too well in print. It's all good. No ill will intended or assumed. After all, It's a forum on Walt Disney World.

 

[Gitson Shiggles]

The most unbelievable thing about your post? Disney updating the last scene of Carousel of Progress...

If they get a sponsor, it will get an update. Why not Ziploc?

 

[Master Yoda]

I mean, you can mock millennials all you want, and I'm sure you have some 'snowflake' and 'safe spaces' comments handy, but seriously... there is SO MUCH plastic out there- its unavoidable for the most part. I mean I try and do my part, FL doesn't really recycle plastic bags so its not easy to turn those back around, but it has to slow down some time and eventually stop. Whether that's because corporations are catering to 'social justice warriors' (I'm sure you had that one stored away too) or not, does it matter?

It's not like WDW is going all-Vegan. It's a small step in a positive direction. Why so many people lately in society are resistant to even the slightest of change, or seem to want to salt the earth on their way out is beyond me.

Publix will take them along with styrofoam egg cartons. No idea what they do with them after that.

 

[aladdin2007]

unless I missed it I haven't seen any confirmation that Disney is switching to paper straws?

 

[Tom P.]

I get that and I'm happy that the US has banned that but Disney has parks in other countries as well. It has to start somewhere and if I have to drink without a straw then I'll learn to deal with it.

How is a guest drinking without a plastic straw at Walt Disney World in Florida related to the dumping of plastic waste into the ocean by China? If Disney said, "since the Chinese government is not taking steps to regulate the disposal of this waste, we are going to do our part and eliminate it from our parks," then I could understand. But here, you're talking about a problem that the United States dealt with over 45 years ago.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I mean, you can mock millennials all you want, and I'm sure you have some 'snowflake' and 'safe spaces' comments handy, but seriously... there is SO MUCH plastic out there- its unavoidable for the most part. I mean I try and do my part, FL doesn't really recycle plastic bags so its not easy to turn those back around, but it has to slow down some time and eventually stop. Whether that's because corporations are catering to 'social justice warriors' (I'm sure you had that one stored away too) or not, does it matter?

It's not like WDW is going all-Vegan. It's a small step in a positive direction. Why so many people lately in society are resistant to even the slightest of change, or seem to want to salt the earth on their way out is beyond me.

To be clear, I wasn’t mocking millennials. I am a millennial and I think on social and environmental views, millennials will end up on the right side of history. As always happens for progressives. Eventually.

You know, Walt loved progress.

 

[Zipadeelady]

It's not, Lucy. However, this isn't a political forum. I'm practicing restraint.

Well played, and that makes two of us.

 

[21stamps]

Paper straws or sippy lids...take your pick

Starbucks has a similar goal and they are going with a new lid.

https://www.eater.com/2018/7/9/17548260/starbucks-ban-plastic-straw-2020

Nooooooooooo!

I thought they meant eliminating straws altogether. Sorry about that!

The amusement parks we attend regularly do not use straws at all.. neither does our zoo.

 

[Zipadeelady]

How is a guest drinking without a plastic straw at Walt Disney World in Florida related to the dumping of plastic waste into the ocean by China? If Disney said, "since the Chinese government is not taking steps to regulate the disposal of this waste, we are going to do our part and eliminate it from our parks," then I could understand. But here, you're talking about a problem that the United States dealt with over 45 years ago.

My hope would be that China would eventually follow suit. Dreaming? Probably. Naive? Sometimes.

 

[21stamps]

I do understand the whole plastic straw controversy, and I applaud the efforts to clean up the environment, but I think there are far more significant changes that could be made to improve the environment for future generations. Balloons, plastic beverage bottles(and their caps), and disposable shopping bags have a much larger impact on our environment and could just as easily be eliminated. An alarming trend I've noticed lately is parents feeding their young children "organic" foods from "disposable" packets, that, once discarded, will probably survive on this earth longer than those children's children will.
So eliminating plastic straws is a great idea, but so much more needs to be done to preserve this planet.

I was talking about this with a friend a couple years ago.. I don’t know why Disney doesn’t sell reusable bags for shopping.

 

[rnese]

OK cool- I don't want anyone to assume I am name-calling, to some that would be a real obscure reference I made, but on here...

Even if you were calling me a Nincompoop, I'd find it funny. I haven't been called one in a long, long time.

 

[yaksplat]

Ya, know...

<looks left, looks right, whispers...>

You can drink your drink without any straw at all... just like for almost every alcoholic or hot beverage...

Quiet you! Stop making sense.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Does anybody even read what I post before telling me it is wrong? The USA does not dump plastic into the oceans and hasn't since 1972. I'm not making this up. This is on the EPA's website:

"In October 1972, Congress enacted the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), sometimes referred to as the Ocean Dumping Act, declaring that it is the policy of the United States to regulate the dumping of all materials which would adversely affect human health, welfare or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems or economic potentialities.

What materials cannot be dumped in the ocean?
The MPRSA and EPA’s ocean dumping regulations prohibit ocean dumping of certain materials, such as:

persistent inert synthetic or natural materials which may float or remain in suspension in the ocean in such a manner that they may interfere materially with fishing navigation or other legitimate uses of the ocean;"

Plastic is an inert synthetic material which may float or remain in suspension in the ocean. Therefore, the USA is prohibited from dumping it in the ocean. Plastic straws which are placed in a trash receptacle in the United States of America WILL NOT end up in the ocean.

Unless you think that millions of average people are hauling their own personal plastic waste down to the nearest beach and dumping it into the ocean, then it absolutely is true for the United States. As has been pointed out, the United States has banned the dumping of plastic waste into the ocean since 1972. It is countries like China that are filling the ocean with that kind of garbage, not the United States.

I know that . My point is strictly based on a worldwide start towards reducing and hopefully eliminating plastics in our landfills and ocean. I’m not speaking just about our US. We can only do what we can at home and hopefully through talk and good scientific evidence that other countries will listen . Other countries have also banned dumping plastics into the ocean which is a great thing. Others will get on board.
Disney is doing something small here and it’s a good thing. I still can’t believe the uproar over not having a plastic straw. Everyone has their thing I guess.

 

[J_Krafty24]

I would like to see them give up disposable water bottles. The Detroit Zoo did this several years ago. Now they sell reusable bottles throughout the zoo including pre-filled and chilled bottles at their food stands. They have bottle refill stations all over the zoo. I could see people going nuts for special themed reusable water bottles at Disney. Think of the character collections, holiday collections and special edition possibilities.

 

[yaksplat]

Wait.... will there be large paper straws for the boba balls in the Night Blossom in avatar land?

Side note: The current straw and boba ball combo makes a wicked pea shooter

 

[21stamps]

Regardless of the percentage, if you can reduce your impact on the environment in any way at all, it should absolutely be applauded.

I agree..but I also laugh. Diapers are one of the worst things possible, and how many parents who are Pro-No Plastic Straws are pushing a baby wearing a disposable diaper?

I can’t hate, I tried reusable diapers and it was a pain, plus very expensive.. In less than 3 months I compromised with myself and purchased disposable yet “eco friendly diapers” which really weren’t completely eco friendly.

I’m glad to see the plastic straws go away though, I think it’s better to do something rather than nothing.

 

[HwdStudio]

As a person who bites my straw...paper straws just don't work for me because they get all soggy. Maybe they should focus on bigger items and not the smallest item of plastic. This also makes me feel like one day we are going to all be stuck using "reusable toilet paper" lol

Bring your own straw