There has been a great deal of discussion about banning single use plastic straws to reduce waste and toxins in our seas and oceans leading to environmental pollution. A number of heritage organisations are now replacing plastic straws with paper straws in their cafes due to this reason.
By removing plastic straws we are excluding disabled people from being able to drink independently in our museum cafes. Is this fair to exclude people, when there are other causes (wrapping, bags) too?
So, can we work together so our journals and magazines don’t arrive on our doorsteps wrapped in plastic?
Or can these be available online instead of printed?
For our meetings and conferences, can we print less?
Museum cafes have plastic straws available on request for people who need them.
Tourettes Hero, Jess Thom has written two excellent blog articles on the need for plastic straws in her day to day life.
Link: https://www.touretteshero.com/2018/03/19/the-straw-fan/ (read this article first)
Link: https://www.touretteshero.com/2018/07/11/ineedstraws/ (second article)
Penny Pepper, writer and Disability Activist has written for the Guardian on how plastic straws are vital to her and other disabled people.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/09/disabled-person-plastic-straws-baby-wipes
BBC: Plastic straw ban disadvantages disabled people, says Paralympian
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43485362
Have you written a blog on how banning plastic straws will effect you? Do let us know via info@musedcn.org.uk