The Impact of Plastic Straws on Marine Life
Plastic straws are a small item with a huge impact on marine life. Every year, millions of straws end up in oceans, where sea turtles mistake them for jellyfish and eat them. Birds get straws stuck in their beaks, and fish swallow tiny pieces of broken straws (microplastics). Plastic straws never decompose—they’ll sit in oceans for hundreds of years. We can stop this by saying “no” to plastic straws, carrying reusable metal or bamboo straws, and asking restaurants to offer eco-friendly options. It’s a small change, but it adds up. If everyone skipped plastic straws, we could keep millions of pieces of plastic out of oceans. Protecting marine life starts with the little choices we make every day.