XPost: talk.politics.misc, alt.politics.usa, alt.politics.republicans
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231103-plastic-or-paper-the-truth-about-drinking-straws
You've probably had this problem: you order a smoothie to sip
with your lunch, a morning iced coffee or your Friday night
cocktail, and it arrives with a brightly-coloured tube of
paper sticking out the top. After a few slugs, however, the
tube quickly flops in on itself, forcing you to take it out
and leave it on the table in a wet, pulpy mess.
. . .
Ok, paper straws CAN be crap, DEPENDING on the use.
However straws, paper OR plastic, are essentially
ONE-use items. Not like you keep yer plastic straw
from McBoogers and use it over and over again.
MY humble suggestion ... slightly IMPROVE paper
straws, permeate them with some hydrophobic
proteins/sugars/whatever to make them better than
pure paper or lightly-waxed paper. They do not
have to be eternal like plastic, just a LITTLE
better - hold up for that ONE use.
And, the dippies will love this, add some hemp
fiber... it'll toughen 'em up without lots of
extra additives AND save a few trees.
Alternative PLASTICS are also possible, cheap
and bio-degradable. Look into "Rayon" and its
family - actually 'melted' cellulose. Even
five percent added to straw pulp could make
the critical dif.
This is a debate that CAN end - and make
everybody happy.
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