Albany County Has Banned Plastic Straws

Another day, another ban in New York. It does feel that way doesn't it? Vape ban, flavor ban, Nerf gun ban....and now straws. Believe me, I'm not complaining about this one. Plastic straws are horrible for the environment.

You can blame John Wesley Hyatt in 1870. He invented the plastic straw according to an article at www.nationalgeographic.com. In just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day.  Before Hyatt's invention straws were all made of paper...now it looks like we're going back to those days.

The Albany County Legislature voted on Monday to pass a ban on plastic straws....kinda. I say kinda, because you can still ask for a straw, or buy straws in Albany Country. The law will prohibit restaurants and fast food locations from providing plastic straws and cutlery unless it is requested by the customer. The ban will go into effect in six months. In the meantime restaurants can starting looking for alternatives to plastic straws....like maybe going back to paper straws.

After the ban takes effect restaurants and fast food locations will be facing a $250 fine for repeat offenders.