The average person uses 1.6 straws per day. It’s no wonder they’re among the top ten items collected every year during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. In fact, volunteers have picked up more than 9 million straws and stirrers from beaches and waterways over the 30+ year history of the International Coastal Cleanup!
Unfortunately, many more continue to make their way into our ocean, where they pose a real danger to sea turtles, albatross, fish and other ocean wildlife.
You Can Take Action
What makes plastic straws unique is that for the vast majority of people they are not necessary. What’s more, sustainable, ocean-friendly alternatives are available.
If you don’t need to drink using a straw, commit to skipping the straw and add your voice to the sea of people taking a stand for the ocean. Sign the pledge now and when offered a straw, simply say “no thanks.”’ It is a small step that goes a long way for ocean health.
And you don’t have to stop there. Ocean Conservancy has developed materials that you can use to encourage others to join the movement, too:
Who is Skipping the Straw
From cleanup organizers and volunteers to sea turtle conservation groups and schools, we’re collaborating with people who care about making a difference and are taking action every day to help their communities reduce single-use plastic. For more on their stories, check out the blogs listed below.
Ocean Conservancy would like to thank the following establishments for choosing plastic disposable straw alternatives or skipping the straw altogether in their daily practices:
Colony Grill, Stamford CT • Banana Boat, Boynton Beach, FL • Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL • University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL • Green Turtle Inn, lslamorada, FL • Quarterdeck Restaurant, Dania, FL • Cactus Flower Cafe, Navarre, FL • The Slippery Mermaid, Navarre, FL • Windjammers on the Pier, Navarre Beach, FL • Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, North Longboat Key, FL • Beach House Restaurant , Bradenton Beach, FL • Sandbar Restaurant, Anna Maria Island, FL • DePalmas, Athens, GA • The Grill, Athens, GA • Hilltop Grill, Athens, GA • Loco’s, Athens, GA • The National, Athens, GA • The Table, Athens, GA • Home.Made, Athens, GA • Panini’s Bar & Grill, Cleveland, OH • Gritty’s, Portland, ME • Captain Buck’s Port, Conway, SC • Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant, Virginia Beach, VA•Stripes Pub & Grill, Navarre, FL • Nollies Taco Joint, Carolina Beach, NC • The Chocolate Avenue Grill, Hershey, PA • Smoked Bar & Grill, Hershey, PA • Cafe Magnolia, Mechanicsburg, PA • South Philly Hoagies, Harrisburg, PA • Blue Water Cafe, Vancouver, Canada • All Pier 39 Restaurants, San Francisco, CA: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market, Chart House, Crab House, Eagle Cafe, Fog Harbor Fish House, Hana Zen Japanese Grill, Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco, Players Sports Grill & Arcade, Players Sports Grill & Arcade • Luau Lounge, Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant, Wipeout Bar & Grill • Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, Holmes Beach, FL • Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, Outer Banks, NC • Blue Moon Beach Grill, Outer Banks, NC • Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, Portsmouth, NH • North Beach Bar & Grill, Tybee Island, GA • The Deck Beach Bar and Kitchen, Tybee Island, GA • Salt Island Fish & Beer Co., Tybee Island, GA • CoCo’s Sunset Grille, Tybee Island, GA • R. F. O’Sullivan & Son, Somerville, MA • Tidal Creek Co-op, Wilmington, NC • Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, Longboat Key, FL • Red Mill Burgers, Seattle, WA • River Rocks Restaurant, Rockledge, FL • Kitchen Outfitters, Acton, MA • Moon River Brewing Company, Savannah, GA • Cooper’s Seafood House, Scranton, PA • Café Magnolia, Mechanicsburg, PA • Old Stone Steakhouse, Belmont, NC • F. O’Sullivan & Son, Somerville, MA • Tidal Creek Co-op, Wilmington, NC • DryDock Waterfront Grill, Longboat Key, FL • Farm Boy, Ontario, Canada • Pub W, Oklahoma City, OK • Noodles, Northampton, MA • All Margaritaville establishments, FL • The Governor’s Inn, Rochester, NH • The Dubliner Restaurant, Washington D.C. • Hillbottom Pie, Port Townsend, WA • In Kennebunk, Maine: Academe at Kennebunk Inn, Amato’s, Coffee Roasters, Crotux, Domino’s, Duffy’s, Earth, Federal Jacks, Ocean Cape Arundel Inn, Ocean Roll, Old Vines Wine Bar, The Pearl, Pedro’s, Pilot House, Toppings, Mekhong Thai • In Kennebunkport, ME : The Boat House, Burleigh at Kennebunkport Inn, The Colony, Dock Square Coffee House, Moon Rose Cafe, Spirit of the Massachusetts, Yachtsman Inn & Marina • In Wells, ME: The Bitter End, Congdon’s Donuts • In Sanford, ME: Fogarty’s • Hillbottom Pie, Port Townsend, WA • Corby’s Public House, Dallas, OR • Poe’s Tavern- Wrightsville Beach, NC • Central Kitchen, Los Angeles, CA
Who is advocating for Skip the Straw?
Big thank you to the on-the-ground partners who are working in their local communities to reduce plastic single-use straws!
Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project, Wrightsville Beach, NC • Trash To Treasure, Ft. Lauderdale, FL • Vista View School, Fountain Valley, CA • Georgia Sea Turtle Center Marine Debris Initiative, Jekyll Island, GA • Dewees Island Sea Turtle Patrol, Dewees Island, SC • Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, Kennebunk, ME • Everett Marina, Everett, WA • Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL • Maine Coastal Program, Augusta, ME • Butterfly House & Aquarium, Sioux Falls, SD • Sea Turtle Conservancy, Gainesville, FL • Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, FL • Palmetto Elementary, Miami, FL • Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Key Largo, FL • Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Erie, PA • Fight Dirty Tybee & Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers, Tybee Island, GA • Save the Manatees Club, Palm Bay, FL • Downeast Institute, Beals, ME • Girl Scouts of America, multiple troops • Boy Scouts of America, multiple packs • District Department of Energy and the Environment, Washington DC • Roosevelt High School, Fresno, CA • Livingston Recycling and Reclamation Committee, Livingston, NJ • Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Portsmouth, NH • Sea Turtle Adventures, Boynton Beach, FL • Great Outdoor Provision Co., Virginia Beach, VA • Sea Turtle Trackers, Inc., St. Pete Beach, FL • Carteret County Big Sweep, Morehead City, NC • STEAM Program, Valley Preparatory of Redlands, Yucaipa, CA • University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, FL • Plastic Ocean Project, Morehead City, NC • Cooper Academy an IB World School, Fresno, CA • Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Cleveland, OH • Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head, NC • North Carolina Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores, NC • Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Palmetto, FL • Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center • National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD • Phillips Management • Anglers for Conservation • Green Turtle Inn • Space Coast Audubon Society & Women of the Wild (WOW) • Natural Restorations • University of Redlands • Marine Education Center & Aquarium, Skidaway Island and Georgia Association of Marine Education (GAME) • Leonard J. Raker Nature Center Discovery Lab • ODNR Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, Huron, OH • Maryland DNR • Shilshole Liveaboard Association • Shorefront • OFE volunteer in Carteret Co. • Keep Golden Isles Beautiful • Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol • Coastal Connections & Indian River Co. Public Works • Fripp Island Turtle Program • Kindergarden teacher • Hammond H.S. • Sustainable Seacoast • Sunset Beach Turtle Watch • Burlington County Clean Communities • Natural Restorations • University of Redlands • Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, SC
“I wanted the Skip the Straw campaign to be implemented on campus because it is the perfect environment to expose the idea to a niche of specific people.”Community Outreach Committee Leader
Read more about Sam Huskey’s story of skipping the straw at University of North Carolina–Wilmington’s, Plastic Ocean Project (UNCW-POP).
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